Evaluation of Two Eating Disorders Prevention Interventions in At-Risk Female Students With Body Dissatisfaction

Summary

Eating disorders are psychopathologies with serious repercussions on the somatic, psychological and social level. Currently available treatments are unfortunately for now not fully efficient, therefore researchers have recommended to develop prevention initiatives. Until now, no study has been carried out in Switzerland to evaluate the efficacy of an intervention for the prevention of eating disorders.

The goal of the present study is to evaluate two eating disorders prevention intervention that have been largely validated in the US, called the Body Project (BP) and the Healthy Weight Program (HW). Both interventions target body dissatisfaction, which is a well-identified risk factor of eating disorders. They will be compared to a one-month waiting list. Because of the pandemic situation due to the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (COVID-19), both interventions will be delivered virtually via a collaborative platform. The sessions will be recorded to carry out a quality control.

To compare the BP and HW interventions to a waiting list, a three-arm randomized controlled study will be carried out, including female students from French-speaking Switzerland. Recruitment will include 90 participants. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of the three arms of the study. They will be evaluated before (T0) and after (T1) the interventions or the waiting list. Following the interventions, the participants will have one month of follow-up before a final evaluation (T2). Participants on the waiting list will receive the BP following the one-month waiting period and will then be evaluated (T2).

After having signed the consent form, the participant will be randomized to one of the three study arms, with a 1: 1: 1 allocation ratio. Interventions will be given in groups of six participants. Randomization will be blocked to ensure groups of equal size, and that groups of six participants for each arm are regularly formed. The blocks will be of variable size (3, 6, 9) to protect the concealment.

The hypotheses are as follows:

1. The two interventions BP and HW will have an effect on body dissatisfaction (primary outcome) as well as on the thin-ideal internalization, dietary restraint, negative affect, and eating disorders psychopathology (secondary outcomes), compared to the waiting list;
2. There will be no differences between the BP and the HW on the primary and secondary outcomes;
3. The effects observed thanks to the interventions will be maintained after one month of follow-up.

Conditions

• Body Dissatisfaction

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Body Project (BP)

The BP intervention offers discussions and exercises to make participants realize the cost of pursuing social ideals valuing thinness. This produces "cognitive dissonance", a cognitive discomfort due to a contradiction between speech and beliefs, which motivates to modify one's beliefs. The curriculum includes discussions on techniques of the advertising industry and the unique ideal of beauty promoted worldwide, as well as on the costs of pursuing the thin-ideal. Participants are also challenged to try behaviours they avoid because their appearance bother them. Societal activism actions are also discussed.

BEHAVIORAL

Healthy Weight Program (HW)

The HW intervention allows participants to make personalized changes in their diet and physical activity each week gradually, to aim for a health-ideal rather than a thin-ideal. The intervention is based on small changes, based on behavioural change techniques. Advice is given on what types of changes introduce to promote health, and how to implement changes sustainably. Difficulties are discussed in the group with a problem-solving approach. The last session introduces a long-term view of lifestyle change.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• School of Health Sciences Geneva

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Isabelle Carrard, PhD · School of Health Sciences Geneva

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

25 Years

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2021-01-01

Primary Completion

2022-05-30

Completion

2022-07-12

Countries

• Switzerland

Study Locations