Effectiveness of an Intervention Protocol to Improve Disordered Eating Behavior and Body Image in the Treatment of Body Image Disturbance and Eating Behaviors among Women

The manifestations of body image disorder in the eating disorder have been assessed on the cognitive-affective component; however, there is no evidence about these disorders on the behavior and perceptual components. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention protocol to improve unique eating behaviors and body image in the treatment of body image disorder and eating behaviors among women.

This quasi-experimental study was conducted based on a pretest-posttest design with a control group using an applied research method. The statistical population consisted of all women who referred to weight loss centers in  Tehran, Iran, during 2018. The data were collected using the Dutch Eating Behaviors Questionnaire and Body Image Concern Inventory. In total, 30 women were selected through a random sampling method and assigned randomly into experimental (n=15) and control (n=15) groups. Subsequently, the experimental group participated in eight intervention sessions per week intending to improve body posture and image.

The results of the multivariate covariance analysis showed that the eating behavior (P=0.001, F=62.889) was statistically significant at 0.05. The effect size of this intervention was approximately 70% on eating behavior and body image, which was acceptable in this study.

The intervention protocol to improve eating and body image had a significant effect on eating disorders and body image. However, there is a need for more replications, as well as more robust, randomized, and controlled trials to improve the methodological standard of intervention studies in this area.