Clinical Research Directory

Body Acceptance After Baby Intervention

The purpose of this study is to learn if a novel online single-session intervention can help improve body dissatisfaction in new moms. The active intervention condition, Body Acceptance After Baby (BABI), uses acceptance-based skills to help participants cope with body dissatisfaction. BABI will be evaluated against another active intervention condition (a brief infographic that provides psychoeducation about body image during postpartum) and a waitlist control condition.

Implementing an Eating Disorder Prevention Program for Youth in Nova Scotia

The goal of this study is to evaluate the Body Project, which is an eating disorder prevention program for youth 15-22 years old. The main question it aims to answer is 'Can an eating disorder prevention program, specifically the Body Project, be successfully delivered to youth in Nova Scotia'? This study will determine the feasibility of implementing the Body Project in Nova Scotia by assessing the following objectives: 1. Acceptability (how well the Body Project is received by, and the extent to which it is perceived as meeting the needs of, youth in Nova Scotia). 2. Demand (the extent to which youth in Nova Scotia are interested in and willing to engage with the program). 3. Integration (the extent to which the Body Project is judged as feasible by the group facilitators). 4. Effectiveness (the extent to which the Body Project reduces eating disorder risk factors in youth in Nova Scotia). Participants will: * Attend a total of 4-4.5 hours of Body Project group sessions, which are led by peer mentors. * Complete outcome measure questionnaires before their first session and after their last session. * Participate in a focus group with their session group members after their last session.

Preventing Disordered Eating and Body Dissatisfaction Among High-risk Pregnant Individuals

The investigators aim to conduct a feasibility randomized controlled trial (RCT) of an eating disorder prevention program (The Body Project, adapted for pregnancy) versus a health education control among pregnant individuals with histories of an ED. The investigators will test the feasibility, implementation outcomes, and its preliminary effectiveness in reducing the risk of elevated disordered eating and body dissatisfaction during pregnancy and postpartum.

Pilot Trial of the Body Image Program to Prevent Eating Disorders in Female University Students in Mexico

The goal of this clinical trial is to examine whether the Body Image Program (BIP), a group workshop, is feasible and acceptable to deliver to young women in Mexico. The program is designed to help participants critically evaluate social pressures to be thin and to support healthier body attitudes. The main questions are: * Can the investigators successfully recruit, retain, and engage university students in the program? * Do participants find the program useful and clear? * Does the program show early indications of lowering body dissatisfaction and unhealthy eating attitudes? Participants will: * Attend 2 group sessions, one per week, each lasting approximately 2 hours (120 minutes). * Complete short activities and homework exercises between sessions, such as reflective writing or self-affirmation tasks. * Complete questionnaires at baseline, immediately after the program, and at 1-month follow-up.

Contemplative Practice for Well-being and Self-Deconstruction in Women

This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a contemplative practice called Feeding Your Demons (FYD), based on a secular adaptation of Tibetan Buddhism, in improving psychological well-being, body image, body acceptance, compassion, and self-deconstruction in adult women. Participants will be randomly assigned to either FYD or an active control group practicing mindfulness meditation. Psychological variables will be assessed before and after the intervention, and at a six-month follow-up. Additionally, a qualitative exploration will be conducted through interviews with a subgroup of participants.

The Effects of Mindhelper.dk: a Self-guided Digital Mental Health Promotion Service Targeting Young People

In a two-armed randomized controlled trial 15-25-year-olds will be recruited via social media to evaluate the effectiveness of Mindhelper.dk; a Danish self-guided, digital, mental health service offering information, self-help tools, and guidance to young people. Participants will be randomly allocated to an intervention group (receiving information about Mindhelper.dk) or a control group (no information about Mindhelper.dk). Outcomes, including well-being (WHO5), psychological functioning (SWEMWBS), help-seeking intentions, and body appreciation (2-item BAS-2SF), will be measured at 2-, 6-, and 12-weeks post-randomization and analyzed using the intention-to-treat approach. Qualitative interviews with intervention group participants will provide complementary insights, and a cost-effectiveness analysis will also be conducted.

An App to Reduce Social Media's Impact on Body Image and Eating Disorders

Social media (SM) is a key communication tool, particularly for young women aged 15-29. While SM fosters social connections, it is also linked to negative effects on mental health, including poor body image, low self-esteem, and maladaptive perfectionism. These issues arise due to social comparison with idealized images, especially on platforms like Instagram, which can contribute to disordered eating behaviours. Research suggests that reducing SM use can improve mental well-being, body image, and eating disorder symptoms. However, current interventions have not simultaneously addressed both reducing SM exposure and strengthening protective psychological factors. To address this gap, the proposed study aims to pilot BodyScreen, an intervention app designed to limit SM exposure while enhancing self-esteem and reducing perfectionism in young women at high risk for eating disorders. The study hypothesizes that BodyScreen will be feasible, acceptable, and effective in improving body image, self-esteem, and SM use, with sustained benefits at a 3-month follow-up. The intervention includes a virtual face-to-face session, mid-intervention email support, and a four-week app-based program using Ecological Momentary Interventions (EMIs). Participants will receive reminders to complete exercises designed to improve self-perception and reduce the negative effects of SM. Additionally, Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) will track real-time self-esteem, perfectionism, and body image, while mobile sensing will monitor SM use to tailor interactive exercises accordingly. By integrating exposure reduction with psychological strengthening, BodyScreen aims to provide a novel, evidence-based approach to mitigating the harmful effects of SM on young women's mental health.

Body Project SMIL: Prevention of Eating Disorders Among Young Women With Psychiatric Illness With the Body Project

The Body Project SMIL tests the effectiveness of a virtual, peer-led intervention aimed at reducing body dissatisfaction and preventing eating disorders in young women with psychiatric illnesses. Eating disorders like anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder have severe physical and mental health consequences. Young women with psychiatric disorders face a fourfold higher risk, yet no widely implemented prevention programs exist in Denmark. Body Project SMIL addresses this gap by testing whether a structured online intervention can prevent eating disorders before they develop. The study is open to women aged 15-25 with body dissatisfaction and a verified psychiatric diagnosis (e.g., mood disorders, anxiety, ADHD, or personality disorders). Those with a clinical eating disorder diagnosis are not eligible. Participants must be comfortable engaging in online group discussions. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups: Body Project Group - A peer-led, virtual program with four one-hour sessions focusing on challenging beauty ideals through structured exercises. Expressive Writing Group - A self-guided exercise where participants write about body image for four weeks. Assessments take place before and after the intervention, with follow-ups at six months, one year, and two years tracking body dissatisfaction, eating disorder symptoms, and well-being. The Body Project is a proven intervention that reduces body dissatisfaction, thin-ideal internalization, and eating disorder symptoms, with some studies showing a 77% reduction in eating disorder risk. While tested in various settings, this study is the first to evaluate its impact on young women with psychiatric illnesses. Participation benefits may include improved body image, reduced eating disorder risk, and enhanced self-esteem. The group format provides a supportive environment for sharing experiences and fostering healthier attitudes toward body image. Ethical approval has been granted, ensuring compliance with GDPR regulations. Since this is a preventive program, it does not replace clinical treatment. Participants showing signs of an active eating disorder will be referred for appropriate care. Recruitment occurs through psychiatric departments, educational institutions, and social media. A research website (www.bodyproject.dk) provides study details and a secure registration form. Parental consent is required for participants under 18, and all participants may withdraw at any time without consequences. Conducted by Aarhus University Hospital Psychiatry in collaboration with international experts, this research may inform scalable prevention programs for young people at risk of eating disorders.

Yoga 4 Body Image (Y4BI): Investigating the Impact of Yoga on Body Image and Eating Behaviours

The practice of yoga can positively impact body image, a psychological construct encompassing perceptual, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral aspects, which can be either positive or negative. Negative body image manifests as extreme dissatisfaction with one's body-a condition particularly common among young women-that places them at significant risk for developing Body Image Disorders (BIDs). In contrast, positive body image is characterized by an overall respect for one's body. Current research on the impact of yoga on body image has several limitations, making it challenging to determine whether yoga practice truly has a positive effect on body image and to identify the mechanisms underlying this impact. To address these gaps, the present project aims to overcome the limitations of existing studies by investigating the impact of yoga on body image through quantitative methodologies and by exploring the mechanisms that drive this effect. The project consists of two phases: 1. Investigating the impact of yoga on body image (both positive and negative) and eating behaviours in a population characterized by high levels of body dissatisfaction-young women. 2. Examining the psychological mechanisms underlying yoga's impact on body image, including increased interoceptive awareness, embodiment, and self-compassion, as well as a reduction in self-objectification.

Prevention of Eating Disorders Through Optimization of Protective Factors

The goal of thin randomized controlled trial is to investigate the efficacy of a prevention program for reducing the incidence of eating disorders among youth (15-20). We target youth at these ages who experience a subjective sense of body dissatisfaction, and are thus at increased risk of developing an eating disorder. The prevention program is based on improving protective factors such as body appreciation, body image flexibility, intuitive eating, and acceptance. It will be compared to a credible placebo (expressive writing).