Body Image Group as Adjunct to Eating Disorder Treatment: Feasibility, Acceptability, and Early Outcomes

Negative body image (BI) contributes to the development and persistence of eating disorders (EDs) and is linked to poorer treatment outcomes and higher risk of relapse. However, existing ED treatments show limited effectiveness in reducing negative BI, often compelling psychotherapists to integrate additional BI techniques into treatment to address their patients’ concerns. This study evaluates the feasibility and preliminary outcomes of a 12-session virtual BI group intervention, designed to programmatically integrate evidence-based BI protocols into ED treatment in response to this clinical need. Thirty-six adolescents and young adults (age range: 14 to 21 years) with transdiagnostic EDs enrolled in the group through an outpatient ED clinic, where they were already receiving specialized individual and/or family therapy. Participants were required to be willing to participate in group BI discussions, and their weight needed to be >90% of their expected body weight. Before and after group participation, participants were asked to complete an online survey that included measures of group acceptability, negative body image, and overall eating disorder pathology. Preliminary findings are promising for the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of this intervention. Most referrals enrolled and successfully engaged, with 63.9% having completed or still actively participating in the group at the end of the data collection period and demonstrating reductions in negative BI and overall ED pathology. Participants’ qualitative feedback emphasized the importance of adapting BI interventions for all genders and body sizes. Additional research is needed to experimentally test the BI group’s effectiveness in larger samples and other treatment settings and explore the timing of adjunctive BI interventions in ED treatment to enhance long-term recovery.