Recently published research in Body Image finds that using a mobile application designed to deliver cognitive training to reduce body dissatisfaction and eating disorder symptoms successfully diminished these symptoms in 34% of participants. This highlights the potential use of apps as a potential therapeutic intervention for those experiencing body image disorders, eating disorders, and body dysmorphic disorder.
Body dissatisfaction is common. It is more prevalent in young adulthood, and young females may be more vulnerable to it due to specific risk factors that characterize this stage of development. Body dissatisfaction is also a risk factor for body dysmorphic disorder and eating disorders, and it is linked with additional psychological symptoms such as low self-esteem, maladaptive perfectionism, social anxiety symptoms, negative affect, and depression symptoms.
Therefore, interventions targeting body dissatisfaction are urgently needed to reduce the development of body image disorders and related psychological phenomena, particularly in high-risk individuals such as young females.
Silvia Cerea and colleagues investigated the efficacy of a mobile health app in reducing symptoms of eating disorders, body dysmorphic disorder, and related features in women at high risk of developing body image disorders. Ninety-five women were randomly divided into an immediate (iApp) and delayed-use (dApp) groups.
The iApp group started using the app at baseline for 16 days, while the dApp group started using it after 16 days. The participants completed questionnaires before app use and again 16 and 32 days later.
The app (OCD.app—Anxiety Mood & Sleep) is designed to help young people improve their body image by challenging negative thoughts and perceptions. Users swipe downwards to accept positive statements about their bodies and upwards to reject negative statements. The app provides feedback to draw attention to unhealthy thoughts and encourages healthy ones.
The study found that the iApp group showed a decrease in dysmorphic symptoms and body dissatisfaction related to eating disorders at 16 days from baseline. The study suggests that mobile health apps could reduce dysmorphic symptoms and body dissatisfaction related to eating disorders in women at high risk of body image disorders.
The study included some acknowledged limitations, including a small sample size and a limited follow-up period. The effects on eating disorder symptoms and associated features were also more limited. The study is preliminary, and further research is needed to confirm the results and explore the long-term effects of mobile health apps in reducing body dissatisfaction and body image disorder symptoms.
Mobile health apps have significant advantages, such as continuous availability, wide reach, low cost, anonymity, and appeal to young people. The work of Cera and colleagues suggests that mobile health apps could effectively reduce body dissatisfaction and body image disorder symptoms, such as body dysmorphic disorder and eating disorder. The study highlights the need for interventions targeting body dissatisfaction, particularly in high-risk individuals such as young females.
The study, “Cognitive training via a mobile application to reduce some forms of body dissatisfaction in young females at high-risk for body image disorders: A randomized controlled trial”, was authored by Silvia Cerea, Guy Doron, Teresa Manoli, Federica Patania, Gioia Bottesi, and Marta Ghisi.
