Pilot Trial of the Body Image Program to Prevent Eating Disorders in Female University Students in Mexico

Sponsor
Comenzar de Nuevo, AC
Study ID
NCT07193043
Status
Active Not Recruiting

Conditions

  • Body Dissatisfaction
  • Eating Disorders

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
FEMALE
Age
18 Years - 25 Years
Healthy Volunteers
Accepted

Interventions

  • Body Image Program (BIP) — BEHAVIORAL
    The Body Image Program (BIP) is a culturally adapted, dissonance-based group intervention derived from the Body Project. It is delivered in two weekly sessions of 120 minutes each, in small groups of 7-10 participants, by trained health professionals with experience in eating disorders. Activities include verbal, written, and behavioral exercises to critique sociocultural appearance ideals, reduce thin-ideal internalization, and promote more adaptive body image. Each session ends with homework: after Session 1, tasks include a behavioral challenge and reflective writing; after Session 2, a commitment activity (e.g., self-affirmation or body activism) is completed within one week and submitted by email. Participants in the waitlist control arm complete the same assessments and are offered the BIP after completing the T3 assessment at 6 weeks.

Study Details

The goal of this clinical trial is to examine whether the Body Image Program (BIP), a group workshop, is feasible and acceptable to deliver to young women in Mexico. The program is designed to help participants critically evaluate social pressures to be thin and to support healthier body attitudes. The main questions are: * Can the investigators successfully recruit, retain, and engage university students in the program? * Do participants find the program useful and clear? * Does the program show early indications of lowering body dissatisfaction and unhealthy eating attitudes? Participants will: * Attend 2 group sessions, one per week, each lasting approximately 2 hours (120 minutes). * Complete short activities and homework exercises between sessions, such as reflective writing or self-affirmation tasks. * Complete questionnaires at baseline (T1), 2 weeks (T2), and 6 weeks (T3).

Key Dates

First listed
Sep 25, 2025
Start date
Aug 26, 2026
Status verified
Aug 2026
Primary completion
Oct 8, 2026
Completion
Oct 15, 2026

Study Design

Enrollment
19 participants (actual)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION

Arms

  • Experimental: Body Image Program (BIP) Intervention
    Participants in this arm will receive the Body Image Program (BIP), a culturally adapted, dissonance-based group intervention derived from the Body Project. The program consists of two 120-minute sessions delivered in small groups of 7-10 participants, once per week for two consecutive weeks. Sessions include verbal, written, and behavioral exercises designed to reduce thin-ideal internalization, challenge sociocultural appearance pressures, and promote positive body image. Each session concludes with homework assignments, and a commitment task is submitted within one week after Session 2.
  • No Intervention: Waitlist Control
    Participants in this arm will not receive the Body Image Program (BIP) during the initial study period. They will complete the same assessments as the intervention group at baseline (T1), 2 weeks (T2), and 6 weeks (T3). After completing the T3 assessment, they will be offered the opportunity to participate in the BIP.

Primary Outcome Measure

Eating Disorder Symptoms (ED-15 Total Score) [ Time Frame: Baseline (T1, Week 0), T2 (Week 2), and T3 (Week 6) ]

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