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Healthy weight control and dissonance-based eating disorder prevention programs: results from a controlled trial
Eric Stice1, Ariel Trost, Allison Chase
1Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA. stice@psy.utexas.edu
Objective:
Because universal psychoeducational eating disorder prevention programs have had little success, we developed and evaluated two interventions for high-risk populations: a healthy weight control intervention and a dissonance-based intervention.
Method:
Adolescent girls (N = 148) with body image concerns were randomized to one of these interventions or to a waitlist control group. Participants completed baseline, termination, and 1, 3, and 6-month follow-up surveys.
Results:
Participants in both interventions reported decreased thin-ideal internalization, negative affect, and bulimic symptoms at termination and follow-up relative to controls. However, no effects were observed for body dissatisfaction or dieting and effects diminished over time.
Discussion:
Results provide evidence that both interventions effectively reduce bulimic pathology and risk factors for eating disturbances.