title: Virtual reality-based multidimensional therapy for the treatment of body image disturbances in obesity: a controlled study.
abstract: The main goal of this paper is a preliminary evaluation of the efficacy of a virtual reality VR-based multidimensional approach to the treatment of body image attitudes and related constructs. The female obese patients (n = 28) involved in a residential weight control treatment, including low-calorie diet (1,200 kcal/day) and physical training, were randomly assigned either to the VR treatment or to psychonutritional groups based on the cognitive-behavior approach. Patients were administered a battery of outcome measures assessing eating disorders symptomatology, attitudes toward food, body dissatisfaction, level of anxiety, motivation for change, level of assertiveness, and general psychiatric symptoms. In the short-term, the VR treatment was more effective than the traditional cognitive-behavioral psychonutritional groups in improving the overall psychological state of the patients. In particular, it was more effective in improving body satisfaction, self-efficacy, and motivation for change. The improvement was associated with a reduction in problematic eating and social behaviors. The possibility of inducing a significant change in body image and its associated behaviors using a VR-based short-term therapy can improve body satisfaction in traditional weight reduction programs. However, given that this research that does not include a follow-up study, the obtained results are preliminary.
authors.affiliation: Applied Technology for Neuro-Psychology Laboratory, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Verbania, Italy. auxo.psylab@auxologico.it
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Riva
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bacchetta
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baruffi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Molinari
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004038:Diet, Reducing / Q000523:psychology; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D010343:Patient Admission; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014584:User-Computer Interface