The Peer-Delivered Body Project for Young Women in High School

This study will evaluate the impact of the Body Project (a dissonance-based program designed to address body image concerns and prevent eating disorders) on key eating disorder risk factors and relevant social and self-constructs at three time-points (pre, post, and one-year follow-up). Young women will be recruited from two high schools and will be randomized to receive the Body Project or to the control group. The Body Project will be facilitated by college-aged women.

Preventive models that can avert the onset of eating disorders and innovative delivery methods that increase engagement with care offer a promising approach to improving the mental health and wellness of young women. This study aims to implement and evaluate the Body Project, a 4-hour dissonance-based program designed to address body image concerns and prevent eating disorders with high school young women using a peer delivery model. This study will evaluate the impact of the Body Project on key eating disorder risk factors and relevant social and self-constructs at three time-points (pre, post, and one-year follow-up). Young women will be recruited from two high schools and will be randomized to receive the Body Project program or to the control group. The Body Project will be facilitated by college-aged young women who have been trained to deliver the Body Project.

The business-as-usual comparison group does not participate in the Body Project but may engage in any other programs or services they normally would

The Body Project is a 4-hour dissonance-based program designed to address body image concerns and prevent eating disorders. The curriculum consists of written, verbal, and behavioral exercises that provide participants with the opportunity to voluntarily and publicly critique the appearance ideal.

Self-report measure of endorsement of the thin ideal (scale 1-5 with higher scores indicating higher levels of thin ideal internalization)

Self-report measure of body dissatisfaction (scale 1-5 with higher scores indicating higher levels of dissatisfaction)

Self-report measure of dietary restraint (scale 1-5 with higher scores indicating higher levels of eating restraint)

Self-report measure of negative affect (scale 1-5 with higher scores indicating higher levels of negative affect)

Self-report measure of body monitoring and surveillance (scale 1-7 with higher scores indicating higher levels of body surveillance)

Self-report measure of loneliness (scale 1-4 with higher scores indicating higher levels of loneliness)

Self-report measure of peer influence on eating and body concerns (scale 1-5 with higher scores indicating higher levels of peer influence)

Self-report measure for depressive symptom severity(scale 0-3 with higher scores indicating higher levels of depression)

Self-report measure for symptoms of generalized anxiety (scale 0-3 with higher scores indicating higher levels of anxiety)

Self-report measure of self-efficacy (scale 1-4 with higher scores indicating higher levels of self-efficacy)

Self-report measure of self-compassion (scale 1-5 with higher scores indicating higher levels of self-compassion)

Self-report measure of global self-worth (scale 1-4 with higher scores indicating higher levels of self-esteem)

Self-report measure of anticipated belonging with group (scale 1-7 with higher scores indicating higher levels of anticipated belonging)

Self-report measure of belonging with group (scale 1-7 with higher scores indicating higher levels of experienced belonging)

Self-report measure of therapeutic alliance with peer leaders (scale 1-5 with higher scores indicating higher levels of working alliance)

Self-reported ratings of satisfaction with program and peer leaders (scale 1-4 with higher scores indicating higher levels of program satisfaction)

Observer-rated assessments of peer leader fidelity and competence (scale 1-10 with higher scores indicating higher levels of facilitator fidelity and competence)

Inclusion Criteria: - Female high school student Exclusion Criteria: - Previous participation in the Body Project program

Vanderkruik R, Gist D, Dimidjian S. Preventing eating disorders in young women: An RCT and mixed-methods evaluation of the peer-delivered Body Project. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2020 Dec;88(12):1105-1118. doi: 10.1037/ccp0000609.