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Eating Disorders 2016
September 12-13, 2016
Volume 6, Issue 7(Suppl) J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2016
ISSN: 2165-7904 JOWT, an open access journal
conferenceseries .com
September 12-13, 2016 Philadelphia, USA
World Congress on
Eating Disorders, Nutrition & Mental Health
Positive bodies: Loving the skin you’re in- An evaluation of a cognitive behavioral therapeutic group
program for women presenting with body dissatisfaction
Vivienne Lewis
University of Canberra, Australia
Body image satisfaction is important, particularly for females, in terms of positive mental health. We know that a poor body
image is a key diagnostic criterion for eating disorders and is related to engagement in eating disordered behavior and
poorer mental health. The results of a study investigating the effectiveness of a six week cognitive-behavioral group intervention
promoting positive body image in adolescent girls and women will be discussed. Fifty-two women aged between 17-54 years
completed self-report measures that assessed body image at the commencement of Session One (pre-treatment) and again after
the conclusion of Session Six (post-treatment). The results indicated that the program effectively enhanced the body image
satisfaction of participants from pre- to post-treatment (namely, on measures assessing the participants’ self-esteem, body area
satisfaction, body self-surveillance, and body image quality of life). Interestingly, the pre-treatment, high body shame group
reported more significant improvements in self-esteem, body image satisfaction, and body image quality of life from pre- to
post-treatment in comparison to individuals in the low-moderate body shame group. These results suggest that brief, group
based, cognitive-behavioral interventions have the potential to improve body image satisfaction and that such an approach
is more effective for individuals who report higher levels of body shame. The program itself will be explained including each
week’s components as well as participants’ open-ended comments on what did and didn’t work for them.
Biography
Vivienne Lewis is a Clinical Psychologist specializing in the area of body image and eating disorders both in her clinical practice and research at University of
Canberra, Australia. She is the author of ‘Positive Bodies: Loving the Skin you’re in’ a self-help book for people, including both men and women, with body image
issues. She is the current Chair of The Australian Psychological Society College of Clinical Psychologists ACT Section and is a strong advocate for celebrating
body diversity.
Vivienne Lewis, J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2016, 6:7(Suppl)