Eficácia de uma intervenção preventiva na redução de fatores de risco para transtornos alimentares e aumento do comer intuitivo, apreciação corporal e autoestima em jovens adultas: um ensaio clínico controlado randomizado

Abstract

Eating disorders (EDs) are considered psychiatric illnessess in which pacients experience serious disturbed behaviors, thoughts and emotions related to food. There is a high chronicity, low remission rate and high mortality in patients with EDs, which is why prevention programs have been developed and tested to reduce risk factors for EDs. However, several outcomes were not evaluated in interventions programs, which suggest evaluating those outcomes in prevention programs, such as “O Corpo em Questão”. The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a dissonance-based intervention (“O Corpo em Questão”) on the reduction of risk factors for EDs and on the increasing in intuitive eating, body appreciation, and self-esteem among Brazilian women. A randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted with 74 body dissatisfied young women, aged 18 to 30 years, enrolled at the Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Governador Valadares campus. Participants were randomized into two groups: intervention group (GI; n = 38) and control group (GC; n = 36). The GI participated in the intervention “O Corpo em Questão” that consisted of four sessions, with last 60 minutes each, with an interval of one week between each session. The CG was passive and did not receive any intervention, but answered the questionnaires at similar intervals to the GI. Participants responded questionnaires that evaluate: Body-ideal internalization, body dissatisfaction, disordered eating, negative affect, self-esteem, body appreciation and intuitive eating at baseline, post-intervention, 4- and 24-weeks of follow-up. The GI showed significantly greater decreases in body-ideal internalization, body dissatisfaction and disordered eating from baseline to post-intervention (p-values < 0.01, between-condition Cohen's d = 0.76–1.04), 4-week (p-values < 0.001 , between-condition Cohen's d = 1.27–1.71) and 24-week follow-up (p-values < 0.001, between-condition Cohen's d = 1.04–1.19). Regarding negative affect, the GI showed significantly greater reduction only at 24-week follow-up (p < 0.05, between-condition Cohen’s d = 0.60). Moreover, the GI demonstrated significantly greater increases in intuitive eating, body appreciation and selfesteem compared to GC from baseline to post-intervention (p-values < 0.01, betweencondition Cohen's d = 0.73–0.98), 4-week (p-values < 0.001, between-condition Cohen's d = 1.25–1.87) and 24-week follow-up (p-values < 0.001, between-condition Cohen's d = 0.82– 1.38). The results provide evidence for the efficacy of the “O Corpo em Questão” program in reducing risk factors for EDs and increasing body appreciation, intuitive eating and selfesteem in Brazilian young adult’s women.