Levels Of Body Dissatisfaction Research Articles

Modeling body size information within weight labels using probability distributions.

What images of bodies do we associate with thinness and fatness? Can our representations of weight-related words be described by simple probability distributions? To answer these questions, the present study examined participants' perceptions of a set of weight-related words using a pictural scale. 259 French women indicated the thinnest, fattest, and best-fitting figures for 13 words. We then used their responses to construct PERT probability distributions, simple skewed distributions allowing to visualize what body sizes were associated with each word. In particular, the variability of the distributions showed how different weight labels can have more or less precise meanings. We found some evidence that the lowest body mass index associated with a label shifted towards thinner figures as body dissatisfaction increased. Using the same method, we investigated the boundaries of what participants consider the ideal body, and showed that the inclusion of their own body in these boundaries predicted their levels of body dissatisfaction. We argue that PERT distributions can be a useful, easy-to-use tool in body image research for modeling the representations of weight labels in different populations.

Screen exposure, mental health and emotional well-being in the adolescent population: is it time for governments to take action?

During the last decade, a multitude of epidemiological studies with different designs have been published assessing the association between the use of digital media and psychological well-being, including the incidence...

The Relationship between Taking Health Courses and Body Image Dissatisfaction in Young Medical Students

Background: Body image (BI) is a set of characteristics inclusive of a person's behaviours, perceptions, feelings and ideas about the shape and size of their body, which has a significant effect on mental, emotional, and physical health and the quality of life. This study sought to ascertain the relationship between health students' body image dissatisfaction (BID) and nutrition course enrollment. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on health major students at King Saud University in Saudi Arabia, Riyadh. An interview of the body shape questionnaire-14 version in Arabic was used, and data were analysed using SPSS statistical software. This study included 257 participants. Results: Males (50.9%, only 8.2%) had body image dissatisfaction, 55.6% had normal body mass index (BMI), and around 45.9% spent more than 4 hours on social media, with WhatsApp being used the most (83%). We found one factor significantly affecting our results: BMI, with a P= <.001. We found low levels of body dissatisfaction among participants, no effect by social media use duration, and found that BMI had a significant effect on BID. Conclusion: The findings of this study added to our understanding of the relationship between taking nutrition courses daily (BID) and increasing public awareness of the importance of maintaining a healthy weight in order to achieve body shape satisfaction, as doing so helps to prevent future health issues brought on by incorrect beliefs about body shape.

Body dissatisfaction and beyond: Investigating attitudes towards calorie labels on UK food menus

In 2022 the British government made calorie labels on menus a legal requirement to encourage healthier food choices while dining out. Yet, little research has explored perceptions of calorie labels on menus in the United Kingdom or tested whether there may be groups of people vulnerable to potential negative effects of calorie labels, such as those with body dissatisfaction. This between-subjects, convergent mixed-methods study addressed these enquiries. Participants were 562 adults who completed an online survey where hypothetical food orders were made from a menu. The study found that participants who viewed a menu with calorie labels ordered fewer calories. Quantitative results did not find that participants with higher levels of body dissatisfaction were at significantly greater odds of using calorie labels to order fewer calories. However, our qualitative (thematic) analysis revealed that experiences of calorie labels could be shaped by body image concerns. Themes further drew on how calorie labels were empowering, but there were also concerns about their oversimplicity. Findings are discussed in relation to implications for future calorie labelling policies. Given the inconsistent findings amongst the limited amount of literature investigating the role of body dissatisfaction in how calorie labels are used, future research is crucial. In the meantime, as a cautionary measure, clinicians involved in supporting individuals with body or food-related concerns should be aware of the challenges their clients may experience in facing calorie labels on menus when dining out.

Scrolls and self-perception, navigating the link between social networks and body dissatisfaction in preadolescents and adolescents: a systematic review

In recent years, the widespread adoption of social media has immersed users in content dominated by conventional beauty ideals and the relentless pursuit of perfection. This pervasive influence has significantly altered the perceptual landscape for young individuals, particularly pre-adolescents and adolescents, shaping their self-evaluations and contributing to distorted notions of beauty. The virtual realm, saturated with carefully curated and idealized images promoting unattainable beauty standards, has intensified concerns about body image. This study aims to comprehensively examine the intricate interplay between social media use and the body image of preadolescents and adolescents. Through a meticulous systematic review of 16 studies, a consistent consensus emerges, highlighting a noteworthy correlation between key variables such as the duration of social media usage, problematic engagement patterns, specific activities within these platforms, and heightened levels of body dissatisfaction.

A cultural models approach to understanding body fatness perceptions and disordered eating in young South Korean men.

The eating disorders field has been limited by a predominant focus on White, Western women, and there is growing recognition of the need to understand cross-cultural variation in key constructs (i.e., ideal body types). A transdisciplinary, cultural models approach systematizes the incorporation of an "emic" perspective (a culture's own understandings of phenomena) into assessments of relationships between body shapes and eating disorders. Eighty-one young South Korean men aged 19-34 years living in Seoul participated in this research. A cultural model of body fatness was identified using cultural consensus analysis during 18 months of ethnographic, mixed-methods fieldwork. Participants also completed questionnaires assessing age, height, weight, sexual identity, university prestige, body dissatisfaction, eating disorder symptoms, and cultural consonance with the Korean cultural model of the ideal male body. Variation in these factors was analyzed using a series of chi-squares and analyses of variance with the culturally defined categories of body fatness as the independent variables. Cultural consensus analysis found that young South Korean men are consistent in identifying categories of "too thin," "balanced," and "too fat." The "balanced" category contained the lowest proportion of high-prestige university attendees and the highest average cultural consonance. The "too fat" category was characterized by the highest levels of body dissatisfaction and dieting, as well as proportion of probable eating disorders. A cultural models approach identified culturally important factors and patterns in disordered eating among young South Korean men and may be effective for understanding eating disorders in other populations not typically studied. This study applies a systematic, "emic" perspective to young South Korean men's body ideals. Young Korean men share a cultural model of body fatness, and this model frames how they experience risk for eating disorders. This study demonstrates a method for incorporating culture into research on eating disorder risk.

The impact of weight and negative body image on the body schema in undergraduate women.

Alterations of the sensory-motor body schema question the origins of such distortions. For example, in anorexia nervosa where patients think they are broader than they really are (body image) but act as if it was really the case (body schema). To date, the results of studies about what hinders the updating of the body schema so much (weight, body image) have been contradictory. We therefore conducted two studies that aimed to assess the impact of weight and body image problems on body schema in 92 young women without anorexia nervosa. For this purpose, we used a new body schema assessment tool (SKIN) that is sensitive enough to detect fine alterations of body schema in seven different body parts. In Study 1, the thinness or overweight of the young women had a major impact on their tactile perception, especially because the assessed body part was a sensitive area for body dissatisfaction in young women (e.g., belly, thigh). In Study 2, the level of body dissatisfaction of the participants in its attitudinal and perceptual dimension also had a negative impact on their body schema, again in interaction with weight and body part. These results imply that body dissatisfaction and thinness are predictors of massive body schema distortions. An oversized body schema could maintain various weight-control behaviors, thus risking the development, maintenance, or relapse of an eating disorder.

The Relationship Between Body Dissatisfaction and Social Anxiety in Adolescents Using Instagram Face Filter

Introduction: Dissatisfaction with the body, especially the face, is often experienced by adolescents during their development. These feelings encourage adolescents, especially women, to try to disguise their dissatisfaction by using face filters on the Instagram application. The appearance gap between the real and virtual worlds can cause anxiety when socializing. This study aimed to determine the relationship between body dissatisfaction and social anxiety of adolescent girls who use face filters on the Instagram application. Method: The type of research used is an observational analytic correlation with a cross-sectional approach with a total sample of 165 people taken through a purposive sampling technique. The level of body dissatisfaction was measured using the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire-Appearance Scale with a Cronbach Alpha reliability coefficient of 0.866. In contrast, the level of social anxiety was measured using the Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents with a Cronbach Alpha reliability coefficient ranging from 0.76-0.91. Results: The results of univariate analysis using frequency distribution analysis showed that the majority of respondents had moderate levels of body dissatisfaction (24.2%) and average levels of social anxiety (52.7%), while the results of bivariate analysis using Pearson Product Moment r=0.435** (p-value=0.001) showed that the higher the level of dissatisfaction with the body, the higher the value of adolescent social anxiety levels, and vice versa. Conclusions: It can be concluded that there is a relationship between body dissatisfaction and the social anxiety of adolescent girls who use face filters on the Instagram application. Providing health education to teenage users of Instagram face filters can be given to reduce body dissatisfaction and anxiety in establishing social relationships.

Age Analysis of Body Dissatisfaction Levels in Adolescent Girls Using Instagram Face Filters

Aims: Body dissatisfaction is a problem experienced by many adolescents today. Age can affect how adolescents perceive their body image. This study aimed to determine age differences in body dissatisfaction in adolescent girls who use Instagram face filters. Methods: The type of research used was descriptive, with a cross-sectional design; the researchers obtained 165 samples using the Slovin formula as respondents using a stratified random sampling technique. The level of body dissatisfaction was measured using the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire-Appearance Scale. Results: The results of univariate analysis using frequency distribution analysis showed that the majority of respondents had moderate levels of body dissatisfaction (24.2%), while the results of bivariate analysis using ANOVA test p-value = 0.820 (p> 0.05) showed no difference between age and the level of body dissatisfaction in adolescent girls. Conclusion: There is no difference in body dissatisfaction among adolescent girls who use Instagram filters. Each age has different stages of growth and development. Analysis of differences in body dissatisfaction levels for various age groups and analysis of body dissatisfaction levels for gender differences can also be carried out for further research.

How evaluative pairings improve body dissatisfaction in adult women: evidence from a randomized-controlled online study

BackgroundMany young women are dissatisfied with their bodies. This study investigated the effect on current body dissatisfaction levels of a newly developed evaluative conditioning procedure that paired self-similar and self-dissimilar images of bodies with positive and neutral affective images, respectively. We hypothesized that learning the contingency that self-similar bodies predict positive affectivity is one process that could aid in explaining how these procedures function.MethodsAdult women without disordered eating pathology participated in an online experiment with random assignment to an intervention or a control condition. All participants initially rated body images in self-similarity and were subsequently asked to categorize positive and neutral images by valence as quickly and accurately as possible. In the intervention condition, self-similar bodies systematically preceded positive images, and self-dissimilar images preceded neutral images, creating a similar body → positive contingency. Pairings in the control condition were unsystematic such that no contingency was present. We measured categorization latencies and accuracies to infer contingency learning as well as current body dissatisfaction immediately before and after exposure to the pairings. All participants further completed measures of trait body image concerns and disordered eating psychopathology at baseline, which we examined as moderators of an expected relation between condition assignment, contingency learning, and body dissatisfaction improvements.ResultsWe analyzed data from N = 173 women fulfilling the inclusion criteria. Moderated mediation analyses showed that assignment to the intervention (vs. control) condition predicted increased similar body → positive contingency learning, which in turn predicted improved body dissatisfaction post-intervention, but only among women with higher pre-existing trait body image concerns or disordered eating levels.ConclusionsThe findings point toward the relevancy of further exploring the utility of pairing procedures. Similar body → positive contingency learning predicted improved body dissatisfaction in individuals with normatively high body image concerns, which suggests pairing procedures could help inform future research on reducing body dissatisfaction.

Physical Activity, Body Composition, Physical Fitness, and Body Dissatisfaction in Physical Education of Extremadura Adolescents: An Exploratory Study.

In recent years, physical activity levels among youths have declined significantly. This has led to a decline in adherence to physical activity recommendations. In this sense, physical education offers an ideal environment that contributes positively to improving adherence to physical activity recommendations, as it teaches students movement-related skills and knowledge. The objective of the present research was to investigate the relationship between physical activity levels, body composition, fitness in Physical Education, and body dissatisfaction levels, and to analyse sex differences in relation to the study variables. The sample was formed of 1166 participants from the 1st and 2nd secondary compulsory education, of which 642 were boys (age 13.16 ± 0.91), and 524 girls (age 13.08 ± 0.85). The measure of physical activity was the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PAQ-A). Body composition was assessed using weight and height to calculate their body mass index. Cardiorespiratory capacity was assessed using the Course-Navette test in Physical Education lessons. The results showed the relationship between physical activity and body mass index, cardiorespiratory capacity, and body satisfaction. It was also confirmed that higher levels of physical activity were associated with a lower body mass index, improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness, and lower levels of body dissatisfaction to a greater extent in boys than in girls. The study concludes that improvements in the study variables were associated with increased physical activity. In addition, it seems necessary to promote healthy lifestyles in physical education lessons, especially during adolescence, as they could serve as a gateway for the improvement of health-related fitness in future generations. Increasing the amount of physical activity among young people is vital. Therefore, it would be essential to develop intervention programs in physical education classes, especially during adolescence, aimed at promoting and increasing physical activity and its benefits.

Body dissatisfaction and low self-esteem in elementary school-aged children: the role of media pressure and trust in parent-child relationships.

Studies have indicated that the media plays a role in the development of body dissatisfaction in children. Nevertheless, there is limited understanding of the protective factors that may reduce this association, such as the parent-child relationship. Therefore, this study investigates children's body dissatisfaction and self-esteem and the role of media pressure and a trust in parent-child relationships herein. A sample of n = 246 participants (59.8% girls, aged 8-10) was recruited. Children completed self-report questionnaires that assessed body dissatisfaction, self-esteem, media pressure, and trust in parent-child relationships. Results revealed that higher scores on media pressure were linked to increased body dissatisfaction and decreased self-esteem. On the other hand, higher scores on trust in mother and father were associated with lower levels of body dissatisfaction and higher levels of self-esteem. However, the presence of trust in parent-child relationships did not attenuate the impact of media pressure on body dissatisfaction or self-esteem. Further investigation is necessary to gain a deeper understanding of how sociocultural and interpersonal factors interact and contribute to the development of body image problems. While current prevention and intervention programs predominantly focus on the individual, it may be beneficial to place greater emphasis on the family environment.

Digital Mental Health Interventions: Differences in Diet Culture Intervention Framing.

Diet culture is a societal norm that ranks thin bodies as superior to other body types and has been associated with negative outcomes, such as eating disorders. Wellness has evolved into a term that is often used to promote diet culture messages. One possible way to combat diet culture is through single-session, digital mental health interventions (DMHIs), which allow for increased access to brief public health treatments. The framing of DMHIs is critical to ensure that the target population is reached. Participants (N = 397) were enrolled in a single-session DMHI, which was framed as either a Diet Culture Intervention (n = 201) or a Wellness Resource (n = 196). Baseline group differences in eating disorder pathology, body image, weight stigma concerns, fat acceptance, and demographic characteristics were analyzed. Across groups, participants reported moderately high eating disorder pathology, low-to-moderate levels of body dissatisfaction, moderate levels of fat acceptance, and either very low or very high weight stigma concerns. Participants in the Diet Culture Intervention group reported higher levels of fat acceptance than those in the Wellness Resource group (p < 0.001). No other framing group differences were identified, though post hoc analyses revealed differences based on recruitment source (i.e., social media versus undergraduate research portal). This study found that framing a DMHI as targeting diet culture or as a Wellness Resource can result in the successful recruitment of individuals at risk of disordered eating. Framing a DMHI as a Wellness Resource may increase recruitment of individuals with low levels of fat acceptance, which may be particularly important for dismantling diet culture, disordered eating, and weight stigma concerns. Future research should assess DMHI framing in other populations, such as men and adolescents.

The Association Between Body Dissatisfaction and Social Media Addiction Among Teenagers in Indonesia

Body dissatisfaction and social media addiction are two psychological problems that are often experienced by teenagers. Body dissatisfaction is a psychological concept that refers to an individual's negative feelings towards his body. Several studies have shown that the higher level of body dissatisfaction, the higher the tendency of social media addiction in adolescents. Individuals tend to compare themselves with others through their appearance on social media, thereby reducing their appreciation of their own body shape and becoming more insecure. These conditions can affect a person's overall mental and physical health. This literature review aims to examine the relationship between body dissatisfaction and social media addiction among teenagers in Indonesia. This literature review was conducted using the keywords “body dissatisfaction AND social media addiction AND teenagers”. This article uses 28 articles that were used as references in its preparation. In conclusion, based on research conducted in various countries, including Indonesia, there is a significant relationship between body dissatisfaction and social media addiction among teenagers. Teenagers who are dissatisfied with their physical appearance tend to use social media more frequently, and excessive use of social media can increase the risk of both body dissatisfaction and social media addiction.

Going deeper into eating and body image pathology in males: Prevalence of muscle dysmorphia and eating disorders in a university representative sample.

Disorders associated with body dissatisfaction such eating disorders (ED) and muscle dysmorphia (MD) in males are understudied and surrounded by controversy regarding their nosological aspects. The current study examined the prevalence rates of clinical cases of ED and MD through a two-phase study with gold standard clinical interview in a representative sample of 850 Spanish undergraduate men, of whom 141 were interviewed. Levels of body dissatisfaction, compulsive exercise, anxious-depressive symptoms and the amount of physical activity were also explored. A prevalence rate for ED of 1.4% and 1.3% for MD was found. No differences were observed between the clinical groups on scales related to body image, supporting the current perspective that MD as well as ED and Body Dysmorphic Disorder could be clustered in a new spectrum of body image disorders, where the behaviours performed to achieve body change could range from restriction or muscularity-oriented eating alterations to pathological exercise or cosmetic surgery. The usefulness of the cut-off points of the screening questionnaires in MD and ED in males are discussed.

Body Dissatisfaction, Cognitive Distraction, and Sexual Satisfaction in a Sample of LGB+ People: A Mediation Study Framed by Cognitive Psychology Models of Sexual Response.

Introduction: Body dissatisfaction is a well-established risk factor for emotional problems and low levels of well-being indicators, such as sexual health. Cognitive models propose that dissatisfaction with one's body can cause cognitive distraction related to physical appearance during sexual activity. This may compromise sexual response, namely, sexual satisfaction in heterosexual cis women. However, this relationship has only been studied within heterosexual samples. The present study aims to test a mediation model using cognitive distraction related to body appearance during sexual activity as a mediator between body dissatisfaction and sexual satisfaction in LGB+ cis people (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and other minority sexual orientations). Methods: This cross-sectional online study comprised 165 cisgender LGB+ participants (n = 67 cis women, 40.6%; n = 98 cis men, 59.4%). Self-report questionnaires were used: the Global Body Dissatisfaction Scale, the Body Appearance Distraction Scale, and a Single-Item Measure of Sexual Satisfaction. Results: Cis women and cis men experience similar levels of body dissatisfaction, cognitive distraction with body appearance during sexual activity, and sexual satisfaction. Body appearance cognitive distraction during sexual activity mediated the relationship between body dissatisfaction and sexual satisfaction only in the men's sample. Discussion: Overall, in terms of gender and body dissatisfaction, our results reveal a reversed pattern than those found in heterosexual samples. This may be because LGB+ cis women may conform less to societal pressure, leading to less meaning given to body dissatisfaction in relation to sexuality, which may lead to more positive sexual outcomes. Likewise, LGB+ cis men present higher body dissatisfaction and experience lower sexual satisfaction, possibly due to the emphasis on physical appearance in the gay subculture. The results confirm the validity of cognitive models of sexual response.

BODY DISSATISFACTION, KECEMASAN SOSIAL PADA REMAJA PEREMPUAN

When interacting socially, not all teenage girls will feel safe, because in reality there are still many teenage girls who feel anxious and uncomfortable when dealing directly with their surroundings and thus experience social anxiety. One of the factors that influences it is body dissatisfaction. This research aims to determine the effect of body dissatisfaction on social anxiety in adolescent girls. High levels of body dissatisfaction can lead to serious consequences, such as eating disorders, depression, and anxiety. Additionally, social anxiety can limit social participation and affect interpersonal relationships. Sampling used the Nonprobability Sampling technique with the Incidental Sampling method. This research involved 347 teenage girls aged 12-21 years. The measuring instruments used in this research were the body dissatisfaction scale (29 items, α = 0.964) and the social anxiety scale (26 items, α = 0.922). The research results show that there is a significant influence of body dissatisfaction on social anxiety in female adolescents (p = 0.000 &lt; 0.05) with an influence size of R square = 45.4% and the direction of the relationship between the two variables is positive with a value of r = 0.674. This means that if body dissatisfaction increases, social anxiety will also increase and vice versa, if body dissatisfaction decreases, social anxiety will also decrease.

Social Comparison and Body Image in Teenage Users of the TikTok App.

The TikTok app is one of the video-based social media platforms that is currently trending and commonly used by teenagers. The data about teenage users of the TikTok app are limited. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of TikTok app use among teenagers in Saudi Arabia and to investigate the association between TikTok app use and the social comparison and the body image of the study population. Further, to explore the potential associations between the social comparison and the body image of the TikTok app users and their different characteristics. This cross-sectionalsurvey study was conducted all over Saudi Arabia. The study included male and female teenagers, aged 12-19 years. The researchers used a structured, self-administered questionnaire to collect data, and it was disseminated using different social media platforms. The social comparison was measured using the questionnaire of the Iowa-Netherlands Comparison Orientation Measure, and the body image was measured using the Measurement of the Body Image Scale. The data were analyzed using the SPSS software version 26 (Chicago, IL: SSPS Inc.). Continuous variables were compared using the Student's t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, or Kruskal-Wallis tests, whereas categorical variables were compared using the Chi-square or Fisher's exact tests as appropriate. Spearman'srank correlation was applied to investigate the association between body image and social comparison scores among TikTok app users and non-users. This study included 384 Saudi teenagers. Females (n=260) outnumbered males (n=124) (67.7% and 32.3%, respectively), and the mean of their age was 16.3±2.0 years. The researchers found a high prevalence (343/384, 89.3%) of TikTok app use among the studied teenagers. There was a significantly high median of the social comparison score among the TikTok app users (33.0, IQR: 28.0-38.0) compared to the non-users (28.0, IQR: 26.0-34.0), p=0.005. TikTok app users also showed a significantly lower median body image score (64.0, IQR: 54.0-72.0) in comparison to the non-users (67.0, IQR: 58.0-73.0), p=0.037. The correlation between social comparison and body image among teenagers using TikTok showed a negative relationship, but it was not significant (p=0.110). However, a significant negative weak relationship was found between body image and comparison of abilities (rs coefficient=-0.113, p=0.037). The findings of the current study indicate a high prevalence of TikTok use among teenagers in Saudi Arabia. The use of TikTok was associated with a high social comparison and a negative body image, with more than half of the users expressing a negative body image. Comparison of abilities was associated with an increased level of body dissatisfaction. These findings emphasize the need for the development and implementation of public health policies and awareness programs to promote body acceptance, especially for young people across the country. Future studies should focus on the long-term impact of TikTok use on psychological health.

The effects of body dissatisfaction, sleep duration, and exercise habits on the mental health of university students in southern China during COVID-19.

Following the outbreak of COVID-19 at the end of 2019, universities around the world adopted a closed management model and various restrictive measures intended to reduce human contact and control the spread of the disease. Such measures have had a profound impact on university students, with a marked increase in depression-related psychological disorders. However, little is known about the specific status and factors influencing the impact of the pandemic on student mental health. Addressing this gap, this study examines the body dissatisfaction, physical activity, and sleep of university students during the pandemic, and uses their levels of depression to provide a theoretical basis for the development of mental health interventions for university students in the post-epidemic era. To achieve this, a total of 1,258 university students were randomly recruited for this cross-sectional study. Collected data included respondents' anthropometric measurements, body dissatisfaction levels, dietary habits, sleep status, physical activity levels, and depression levels. The overall detection rate of depression was 25.4%, with higher levels of depression among women. Multiple regression analysis showed that the PSQI score (β = 1.768, P < 0.01) and physical activity scores (β = -0.048, P < 0.01) were significant predictors of depression in men, while the PSQI score (β = 1.743, P < 0.01) and body dissatisfaction scores (β = 0.917, P < 0.01) were significant predictors of depression in women. Mental health problems were prevalent among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results indicate the possibility of alleviating depression among university students by improving their body dissatisfaction, physical activity, and sleep. However, as this study was limited to Ganzhou City, it is challenging to extrapolate the findings to other populations. As this was a cross-sectional study, a causal relationship between depression levels and lifestyle habits cannot be determined.

Attentional Bias Modification Training Based on Virtual Reality and Eye Tracking in Anorexia Nervosa Patients.

Anorexia nervosa (AN) patients exhibit attentional bias (AB) related to the body, which is the tendency to pay greater attention to weight-related body areas compared to non-weight-related ones. This phenomenon has been linked to elevated levels of body dissatisfaction (BD) and may potentially reduce the effectiveness of body exposure therapy. The purpose of this pilot study is to assess the efficacy of a single session of a new body-related AB modification task (ABMT) that combines virtual reality with eye tracking in patients with AN. The goals of the ABMT are to reduce body-related AB by balancing attention between weight and non-weight-related body areas and to reduce BD levels. Twenty-three adolescent patients with AN were embodied in a virtual avatar and immersed in a virtual environment where they completed the ABMT. Body-related AB measures and BD levels were assessed before and after the training. A paired samples t-test showed statistically significant differences between pre-assessment and post-assessment; the complete fixation time on weight-related body parts was reduced and BD levels decreased. The initial evidence of the efficacy of this ABMT has important clinical implications, since AB and BD are considered risk factors for developing and maintaining eating disorder symptomatology among patients with AN.