Cognitive-behavioral treatment of women's body-image dissatisfaction.

Body-image dissatisfaction is a problem that affects a substantial minority of women and cuts across various diagnostic groups. College women with a significant level of body-image dissatisfaction were randomly assigned to either a cognitive–behavioral treatment (CBT) program (n?=?15) or to a waiting-list control group (n?=?16). The CBT program consisted of six structured, individual sessions that applied cognitive–behavioral procedures to the problem of negative body image. At pretest, posttest, and 7-week follow-up, multiple aspects of body image and other areas of psychosocial functioning were assessed. Relative to the control condition, the CBT program successfully improved affective body image, weakened maladaptive body-image cognitions, and enhanced social self-esteem and feelings about physical fitness and sexuality. Treatment effects were largely maintained at follow-up. After posttest, the control group received a 3-week treatment with immediate effects that generally replicated those obtained in the 6-week program. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)