A dissonance-based approach to body acceptance
The Body Project is a dissonance-based body-acceptance intervention designed to help high school and college-age women resist cultural pressures to conform to the thin-ideal standard of female beauty. The conceptual basis for the intervention is that when girls and young women voluntarily argue against the thin ideal in group-based verbal, written, and behavioral exercises, they will believe less in this ideal, which will lead to decreases in eating disorder risk factors and symptoms.
Consistent with this expectation, randomized prevention trials conducted by eight independent labs have found The Body Project reduces thin-ideal internalization, body dissatisfaction, negative mood, unhealthy dieting, and eating disorder symptoms. The intervention also has been found to reduce future onset of threshold and subthreshold eating disorders. In addition, some studies have found that The Body Project reduces risk for future obesity, reduces mental health treatment utilization, and improves psychosocial functioning. To our knowledge, no other prevention program has produced prevention effects for eating disorder symptoms in trials conducted by independent labs or shown superior effects relative to alternative active interventions. The intervention has received support when delivered by research-trained staff, real-world providers, and even undergraduate peer leaders.
Key finding: A recent trial found that The Body Project produced a 77% reduction in future onset of eating disorders over a 2-year follow-up, the strongest prevention effect ever reported.
Program overview and introduction
What the research shows
- ↓ Thin-ideal internalization
- ↓ Body dissatisfaction
- ↓ Negative mood & unhealthy dieting
- ↓ Eating disorder symptoms
- ↓ Future onset of eating disorders
What You Will Find Here
In addition to this description of The Body Project, this website provides empirical publications supporting the program's effectiveness, copies of the actual facilitator manuals and participant workbooks, training videos, and supplemental documents for conducting groups, including recruitment materials, assessment forms, and quality assurance tools. It also includes information about training opportunities, links to helpful external resources, and frequently asked questions.
Related Programs
The dissonance-based framework has been extended into three additional evidence-based programs.
Priorities
A 4-session program targeting overvaluation of weight and shape, helping participants base their self-worth on a broader range of factors for better mental health.
Learn MoreProject Health
A 6-session dissonance-based program designed to prevent both eating disorders and obesity, combining body acceptance with healthy weight content.
Learn MoreBody Project Treatment
An 8-session group treatment program for individuals already experiencing eating disorder symptoms, extending the dissonance framework into clinical care.
Learn More