Preventive models that can avert the onset of eating disorders and innovative delivery methods that increase engagement with care offer a promising approach to improving the mental health and wellness of young women. This study aims to implement and evaluate the Body Project, a 4-hour dissonance-based program designed to address body image concerns and prevent eating disorders with high school young women using a peer delivery model. This study will evaluate the impact of the Body Project on key eating disorder risk factors and relevant social and self-constructs at three time-points (pre, post, and one-year follow-up). Young women will be recruited from two high schools and will be randomized to receive the Body Project program or to the control group. The Body Project will be facilitated by college-aged young women who have been trained to deliver the Body Project.
This study will evaluate the impact of the Body Project (a dissonance-based program designed to address body image concerns and prevent eating disorders) on key eating disorder risk factors and relevant social and self-constructs at three time-points (pre, post, and one-year follow-up). Young women will be recruited from two high schools and will be randomized to receive the Body Project or to the control group. The Body Project will be facilitated by college-aged women.