Healthy weight control and dissonance-based eating disorder prevention programs: results from a controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
Because universal psychoeducational eating disorder prevention programs have had little success, we developed and evaluated two interventions for high-risk populations: a healthy weight control intervention and a dissonance-based intervention.


METHODS
Adolescent girls (N = 148) with body image concerns were randomized to one of these interventions or to a waitlist control group. Participants completed baseline, termination, and 1, 3, and 6-month follow-up surveys.


RESULTS
Participants in both interventions reported decreased thin-ideal internalization, negative affect, and bulimic symptoms at termination and follow-up relative to controls. However, no effects were observed for body dissatisfaction or dieting and effects diminished over time.


CONCLUSIONS
Results provide evidence that both interventions effectively reduce bulimic pathology and risk factors for eating disturbances.
Stice
Eric
E
Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA. stice@psy.utexas.edu
Trost
Ariel
A
Chase
Allison
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D001828:Body Image; D001835:Body Weight; D002032:Bulimia / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000523:psychology*