Anorexia Prevention in Female College Students

Prevention of Anorexia Nervosa in Female College Students

This study evaluated whether an acceptance-based embodied movement program can reduce eating disorder risk and body shape concerns in female college students at elevated risk. A total of 135 female undergraduate and graduate students were randomly assigned to one of three groups: acceptance-based embodied movement, functional fitness control, or psychoeducation. The intervention lasted 8 weeks, and outcomes were assessed at baseline, week 4, week 8, and 3-month follow-up. The main outcomes were eating disorder risk and body shape concern. Secondary outcomes included depression, anxiety, body image flexibility, functionality appreciation, and body surveillance.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Eating Disorder Risk; Body Shape Concern
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Acceptance-Based Embodied Movement; Behavioral: Functional Fitness Control; Behavioral: Psychoeducation

Detailed Description

This was a single-blind, three-arm, parallel-group randomized controlled trial conducted among female college students at elevated risk of eating disorders or body shape concerns. Participants were recruited from Jinan University and randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to acceptance-based embodied movement, functional fitness control, or psychoeducation.

The acceptance-based embodied movement program used low-impact mindful movements derived from yoga and tai chi and incorporated acceptance and commitment therapy techniques. The program emphasized present-moment body sensations, acceptance of appearance-related thoughts and feelings, cognitive defusion, valued action, and appreciation of body functionality. The functional fitness control program matched the movement intervention in session duration, frequency, and contact time, but removed mindfulness and acceptance components. It included aerobic and core exercises with standard fitness instruction. The psychoeducation program provided cognitive and dissonance-based body image education without physical activity.

All three programs lasted 8 weeks and were delivered in groups by trained facilitators using written manuals. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, mid-intervention, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up. The primary outcomes were eating disorder risk measured by the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire Short Form and body shape concern measured by the Body Shape Questionnaire-8C. Secondary outcomes included depression, anxiety, body image flexibility, functionality appreciation, and body surveillance. Attendance, intervention fidelity, and adverse events were monitored throughout the study.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 135
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• China
  • Gaungdong
    • Guangzhou, Gaungdong, China
      • Jinan University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Female undergraduate or graduate students.
• Aged 18 to 25 years.
• Elevated eating disorder risk or body shape concern based on the prespecified screening threshold.
• Physically able to participate in light-intensity physical activity.
• Provided written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Current treatment for an eating disorder.
• Any physical condition contraindicating participation in exercise.
• Pregnancy.
• Concurrent participation in another structured body image or exercise program.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Acceptance-Based Embodied Movement; Participants received an 8-week acceptance-based embodied movement program delivered in groups. The program used low-impact mindful movements derived from yoga and tai chi and incorporated acceptance and commitment therapy techniques, including present-moment awareness, acceptance of appearance-related thoughts and feelings, cognitive defusion, valued action, and appreciation of body functionality.	Behavioral: Acceptance-Based Embodied Movement; An 8-week group-based embodied movement program using low-impact mindful movements derived from yoga and tai chi. The program incorporated acceptance and commitment therapy techniques, including present-moment body awareness, acceptance of appearance-related thoughts and feelings, cognitive defusion, valued action, and appreciation of body functionality.
Active Comparator: Functional Fitness Control; Participants received an 8-week functional fitness control program delivered in groups. This program matched the embodied movement program in session duration, frequency, and contact time, but removed mindfulness and acceptance components. It included aerobic and core exercises with standard fitness instruction focused on exertion, completion of exercises, and cardiorespiratory fitness.	Behavioral: Functional Fitness Control; An 8-week group-based functional fitness program matched to the embodied movement program in session duration, frequency, and contact time. The program included aerobic and core exercises with standard fitness instruction and did not include mindfulness, acceptance, or body-image-focused guidance.
Active Comparator: Psychoeducation; Participants received an 8-week psychoeducation program delivered in groups without physical activity. The program provided cognitive and dissonance-based body image education, including critical discussion of idealized media images, appearance-focused talk, and body-related self-esteem.	Behavioral: Psychoeducation; An 8-week group-based psychoeducation program without physical activity. The program provided cognitive and dissonance-based body image education, including critical discussion of idealized media images, appearance-focused talk, and body-related self-esteem.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Eating Disorder Risk	Eating disorder risk was measured using the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire Short Form (EDE-QS). Higher scores indicate greater eating disorder risk.	Baseline, week 4, week 8, and week 20 follow-up
Body Shape Concern	Body shape concern was measured using the 8-item Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ-8C). Higher scores indicate greater body shape concern.	Baseline, week 4, week 8, and week 20 follow-up

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Depressive Symptoms	Depressive symptoms were measured using the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Higher scores indicate more severe depressive symptoms.	Baseline, week 4, week 8, and week 20 follow-up
Anxiety Symptoms	Anxiety symptoms were measured using the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7). Higher scores indicate more severe anxiety symptoms.	Baseline, week 4, week 8, and week 20 follow-up
Body Image Flexibility	Body image flexibility was measured using the Body Image Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (BI-AAQ). Higher scores indicate greater body image flexibility.	Baseline, week 4, week 8, and week 20 follow-up
Functionality Appreciation	Functionality appreciation was measured using the Functionality Appreciation Scale (FAS). Higher scores indicate greater appreciation of body functionality.	Baseline, week 4, week 8, and week 20 follow-up

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Jinan University Guangzhou

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): June 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 1, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): December 1, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 24, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 24, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): June 30, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 30, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 24, 2026
• Last Verified: June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Body image; Acceptance and commitment therapy; Disordered eating; Female college students; Body image flexibility; Embodied movement; Functionality appreciation
• Other Study ID Numbers: JNUECKY-20260325-054

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Individual participant data will not be shared because participant consent and ethics approval did not include a plan for public sharing of individual-level data.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No