Empirically evaluated treatments for body image disturbance: A review

Body image disturbance is both a risk factor for the development of disturbed eating and a central feature of clinical eating disorders. This review examines empirically tested interventions for people with high levels of body image disturbance. The most commonly used therapies with the most empirical support are cognitive-behavioural. The specificity of the body image interventions and the importance of individual components have not yet been established. Prevention programmes to address body image disturbance appear promising, although further research evidence is required. It is concluded that treatments for addressing body image disturbance are hindered by the lack of a clearly specified theoretical model of the maintenance of body image disturbance and that such an analysis is needed to increase the effectiveness of current interventions. Copyright (c) 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.