Virtual Reality–Based Multidimensional Therapy for the Treatment of Body Image Disturbances in Obesity: A Controlled Study

Abstract

The main goal of this paper is a preliminary evaluation of the efficacy of a virtual reality VR-based multidimensional approach to the treatment of body image attitudes and related constructs. The female obese patients (n = 28) involved in a residential weight control treatment, including low-calorie diet (1,200 kcal/day) and physical training, were randomly assigned either to the VR treatment or to psychonutritional groups based on the cognitive-behavior approach. Patients were administered a battery of outcome measures assessing eating disorders symptomatology, attitudes toward food, body dissatisfaction, level of anxiety, motivation for change, level of assertiveness, and general psychiatric symptoms. In the short-term, the VR treatment was more effective than the traditional cognitive-behavioral psychonutritional groups in improving the overall psychological state of the patients. In particular, it was more effective in improving body satisfaction, self-efficacy, and motivation for change. The improvement was associated with a reduction in problematic eating and social behaviors. The possibility of inducing a significant change in body image and its associated behaviors using a VR-based short-term therapy can improve body satisfaction in traditional weight reduction programs. However, given that this research that does not include a follow-up study, the obtained results are preliminary.

Body Image in Eating Disorders: The Influence of Exposure to Virtual-Reality Environments

“…Several research groups, such as Riva et al [68][69][70][71][72][73][74][75][76][77] and Perpiñ a et al, [78][79][80] have already developed VR environments for the treatment of body-image disturbances and for assessing the changes obtained. The results of these research groups corroborate the usefulness of VR technology in this field.…”

Overview: Virtual Reality in Medicine

“…It is even possible to generate a body transfer illusion: Slater substituted the experience of male subjects' own bodies with a life-sized virtual human female body. It is also possible to use VR to improve body image (Riva, Melis, 1997; even in patients with eating disorders (Riva, Bacchetta, Baruffi, 2002; or obesity (Riva, Bacchetta, Baruffi, Molinari, 2001;Dean, Cook, 2009). …”

Virtual Realities in the Treatment of Mental Disorders: A Review of the Current State of Research

“…VR programs focused on the improvement of body image, body satisfaction and physical acceptance in obese patients and reduction of perfectionisms, body dissatisfaction and negative attitudes towards the body in anorectic patients. A few controlled studies demonstrated the effectiveness of VR in the treatment of eating disorders [88][89][90].…”