152 pg, (paper) ‘07

This facilitator guide outlines a two-part group intervention program for adolescent and college-aged women at risk of developing eating disorders. In the first part of the program, participants critique the thin-ideal through discussion, role-playing, and written exercises. Participants learn skills that increase body satisfaction, decrease unhealthy weight control behaviors, and prevent eating disorder symptoms. The second part of the intervention is designed to help participants make gradual and permanent lifestyle changes to achieve a healthy body weight. It teaches how to eat for energy balance, make healthy food choices, and incorporate physical exercise into a daily routine.

A superb tool for anyone leading body image groups with young or adult women, this new facilitator guide has more than enough material for four sessions. Each one includes timed periods for discussions and exercises that cover a wide variety of topics, such as: the thin ideal, self-affirmation, challenging fat talk, energy balance, healthy dietary change, body activism, and more. The authors provide good background information and explain how to manage an efficient group.

Each group member should have a copy of the workbook, The Body Project Workbook (Code BPW), which includes information for each session and a place to write out the exercises and homework. Sold in sets of 10.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Eric Stice is a Research Scientist in the Department of Psychology at the University of Texas, Austin.