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Expand Your Horizon: A Qualitative Analysis of How Adolescent Girls With an Eating Disorder Describe Their Body
Stella Weiland1, Jessica M Alleva2, Klaske A Glashouwer1,3
1Department of Clinical Psychology and Experimental Psychopathology, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
The International Journal of Eating Disorders
|November 19, 2025
Summary
Adolescent girls with eating disorders can appreciate their bodies for their functions, not just appearance. The Expand Your Horizon intervention helps them focus on what their bodies can do, improving body image.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Eating Disorders
- Body Image Research
Background:
- Negative body image is a significant factor in the development and persistence of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.
- The 'Expand Your Horizon' (EYH) intervention aims to improve body image by focusing on functionality appreciation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore themes related to body functionality among adolescent girls with eating disorders participating in the EYH intervention.
- To understand how these adolescents perceive their bodies' capabilities in the context of the intervention.
Main Methods:
- Fifty-eight adolescent girls diagnosed with an eating disorder participated in the EYH intervention.
- Participants wrote about their body's functions and their personal meaning.
- Thematic Analysis was employed to analyze the qualitative data.
Main Results:
- Five key themes emerged: body functions for emotional regulation, social connection, independence, identity, and their link to the eating disorder.
- The 'aesthetic body' was also identified as a theme.
- Participants described body functions in relation to emotional experiences, social interactions, and self-perception.
Conclusions:
- Body functionality is crucial to the experiences of adolescent girls with eating disorders.
- Findings suggest that adolescents with eating disorders can shift focus from appearance to appreciating their bodies' capabilities.
- The EYH intervention shows promise in fostering a more functional appreciation of the body.
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