Cognitive behavior therapy for negative body image

Abstract

Subjects were twenty-three normal weight women with disturbed body image, but without eating disorders, who were randomly assigned to either cognitive behavior therapy or minimal treatment. Treatment was provided for six-weeks in a small group format. Cognitive behavior therapy focused on correction of size and weight overestimation, modification of distorted and negative thoughts about physical appearance, and exposure to situations which provoke thoughts about appearance, i.e., treatment dealt with perceptual, cognitive, and behavioral aspects of body image disturbance. The minimal treatment condition controlled for information and attention. At posttreatment and follow-up, subjects in cognitive behavior therapy showed greater improvements in size overestimation, body dissatisfaction, and behavioral avoidance, compared to subjects in minimal treatment. The results indicate that cognitive behavior therapy is an effective intervention for disturbed body image in young women.