Learning to Love the Body You're in

Ivanhoe Newswire
Tuesday, August 8, 2006; 12:00 AM

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Body image plays a big role in who will develop eating disorders like anorexia nervosa and bulimia. New research suggests an online program can help put the whole thing into better perspective for college co-eds.

Investigators developed the "Student Bodies" program to help young women learn more about healthy eating habits and teach them about the risks associated with eating disorders. The Internet-based program also promotes a healthy view of body image and addresses concerns women may be having about their size and shape.

The program was tested in California co-eds who were previously identified as at risk for developing an eating disorder. Some of the women used the program, while the others didn't and served as controls. All the women were followed for three years.

"Student Bodies" proved most successful in women who were overweight and in those who were already showing some signs and symptoms of an eating disorder when the study began, such as use of laxatives or self-induced vomiting after meals. None of the overweight women who used the program went on to develop an eating disorder, compared to nearly 12 percent of similarly overweight women in the control group.

Among women who were already exhibiting symptoms of an eating disorder, 14 percent developed eating disorders, compared to 30 percent of similar women in the control group.

The authors believe these findings show a simple -- and inexpensive -- online program can help young women avoid the dire effects of eating disorders, which cause more deaths than just about any other form of mental illness. "The most important finding of this study is that a brief, eight-week, Internet-based cognitive-behavioral intervention led to sustained reductions in weight and shape concerns in college-age women who were at high risk," they write.

This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.

SOURCE: Archives of General Psychiatry, 2006;63:881-888