Virtual reality environment for body image modification: A multidimensional therapy for the treatment of body image in obesity and related pathologies

The aim of this article is to investigate the possibility of inducing a sig nificant modification on body image attitudes and behavior in obesity and r elated pathologies using a psychological approach based on virtual reality (VR). The design used is a clinical intervention study using five bi-weekly , VR-based therapeutical sessions. The sample was composed by 57 female obe se, BED, and EDNOS patients who were seeking treatment at the Weight Reduct ion Unit of the Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Verbania, Italy. Various body -image related psychometric tests (Body Satisfaction Scale, Body Image Avoi dance Questionnaire, Figure Rating Scale, Contour Drawing Rating Scale) wer e submitted to the sample at baseline and after therapy. In all samples, th e subjects improved their overall body satisfaction after the treatment. Th e improvement was always associated to a reduction in problematic eating an d social behaviors. The possibility of inducing a significant change in bod y image and its associated behaviors using a VR-based, short term therapy c an be useful to improve the body satisfaction in traditional weight reducti on programs.