Dissonance thin-ideal and didactic healthy behavior eating disorder prevention programs: results from a controlled trial

Objective Negative body image, a common problem among college‐age women in the United States, strongly correlates with low self‐esteem, disturbed eating behavior, and eating disorders. Psychoeducational programs have inconsistently shown improvement in body image, thin‐ideal internalization, eating behaviors, psychosocial functioning, and self‐esteem. Method In the current study, college women with body image concerns (N = 84) were randomly assigned to a cognitive dissonance‐based, thin‐ideal internalization, single‐session workshop (DTI; n = 26); a psychoeducational, healthy behavior, single‐session workshop (HB; n = 24); or a wait‐list control (WL; n = 34). Results Comparing baseline data with 4‐week follow‐up data, results indicated that both DTI and HB participants reported improvement in body image, thin‐ideal internalization, and eating behaviors. Discussion Results provide evidence that both interventions effectively reduce risk factors for eating pathology. © 2004 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 36: 376–388, 2004.