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Dissonance-Based Eating Disorder Prevention Program Reduces Reward Region Response to Thin Models; How Actions Shape
Eric Stice1, Sonja Yokum1, Allison Waters2
1Oregon Research Institute, Eugene, United States of America.
Plos One
|December 8, 2015
Summary
The Body Project, a dissonance-based eating disorder prevention program, reduces young women's brain reward responses to thin media ideals. This intervention alters neural valuation, potentially reducing body dissatisfaction and eating disorder risk.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Eating Disorder Research
Background:
- Dissonance-based programs effectively reduce body dissatisfaction by challenging the "thin ideal."
- Attitudinal changes from dissonance may stem from altered neural valuation processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if the Body Project intervention alters neural responses to thin media ideals in at-risk women.
- To examine the link between changes in brain activity and reductions in body dissatisfaction.
Main Methods:
- Randomized controlled trial comparing the Body Project to an educational control.
- fMRI scans assessed brain activity while viewing thin vs. average-weight female models before and after the intervention.
- Correlational analyses examined the relationship between brain response changes and body dissatisfaction.
Main Results:
- Body Project participants showed reduced caudate nucleus activity in response to thin models compared to controls.
- Reductions in caudate and putamen activity correlated with decreased body dissatisfaction.
- Pre-existing differences in other brain regions were noted between groups.
Conclusions:
- The Body Project intervention demonstrates a biological effect by reducing neural valuation of thin media ideals.
- This provides preliminary evidence supporting the intervention's theory and its potential to mitigate eating disorder risk factors.
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