Body image treatment for a community sample of obligatory and nonobligatory exercisers.
OBJECTIVE
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) was used to treat body dissatisfaction in obligatory and nonobligatory exercisers within a community sample of normal weight women.


METHODS
Ninety-four women (36% obligatory exercisers, 64% nonobligatory exercisers) were assigned randomly to CBT or the waiting-list (WL) control group.


RESULTS
The hypotheses that obligatory exercisers would show poorer pretreatment body image and greater compulsiveness than nonobligatory exercisers were supported partially. The prediction that obligatory exercisers would respond less favorably to treatment was not supported. Overall, CBT participants evidenced significantly better body image outcomes than the WL at posttreatment, but many effects were lost by the follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment response is considered in light of the unique characteristics of this ethnically diverse, older community sample when compared with the young students in earlier body image intervention studies. The high rate of physical activity among even the nonobligatory exercisers is highlighted for its mood-regulation properties and its treatment implications.
Smith
J E
JE
Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA. janellen@unm.edu
Wolfe
B L
BL
Laframboise
D E
DE
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011897:Random Allocation; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000628:therapy*