This study will evaluate 2 eating disorder prevention programs designed to increase body satisfaction among adolescent females with body image concerns.

Many adolescent females are dissatisfied with their bodies, and body dissatisfaction is a risk factor for eating disorders. One of the most common eating disorders is bulimia nervosa. This disorder can result in serious medical complications that may persist for a long time.

Females who report body image concerns are randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups: a dissonance group, a healthy weight management group, a writing placebo control, or a waitlist control. The dissonance group treatment consists of 3 weekly sessions of verbal, written, and behavioral exercises designed to help participants critique the thin-ideal (the belief that the ideal body shape is thin). At these sessions, participants discuss the problems that may arise from believing the media's message that women should be thin. Participants also engage in role-plays to practice resisting pressure to be ultra thin.

The healthy weight management intervention is designed to increase body satisfaction through the use of weight management techniques that allow participants to gain more control over their shape and weight. Participants in this group attend 3 weekly sessions in which they examine their eating habits and make specific changes to their food intake and exercise habits to achieve a healthier lifestyle.

Participants in the writing placebo group are told that body image concerns may stem from important emotional issues in their lives, and they are asked to write for 20 minutes about an important emotional issue that has affected their life.

Participants in the waitlist complete only self-report surveys and a diagnostic interview for eating disorders.

Participants complete a total of 8 surveys and 5 interviews. Surveys are administered prior to participation in the groups, immediately following each group session, and at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after group participation. Interviews are conducted prior to and immediately following participation in the groups, and at 6, 12, and 24 months. Participants in the control groups complete all assessments at the same time as the intervention groups, and they have the opportunity to participate in the dissonance intervention after follow-up assessments are completed.

Ages Eligible for Study:  14 Years   -   19 Years,  Genders Eligible for Study:  Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Criteria

Inclusion criteria:

• Self-reported body image concerns