Virtual reality-based multidimensional therapy for the treatment of body image disturbances in obesity: A controlled study

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 bo dy image attitudes and related constructs. The female obese patients (n = 2 8) involved in a residential weight control treatment, including low-calori e diet (1,200 kcal/day) and physical training, were randomly assigned eithe r to the VR treatment or to psychonutritional groups based on the cognitive -behavior approach. Patients were administered a battery of outcome measure s assessing eating disorders symptomatology, attitudes toward food, body di ssatisfaction, level of anxiety, motivation for change, level of assertiven ess, and general psychiatric symptoms. In the shortterm, the VR treatment w as more effective than the traditional cognitive-behavioral psychonutrition al groups in improving the overall psychological state of the patients. In particular, it was more effective in improving body satisfaction, self-effi cacy, and motivation for change. The improvement was associated with a redu ction in problematic eating and social behaviors. The possibility of induci ng a significant change in body image and its associated behaviors using a VR-based short-term therapy can improve body satisfaction in traditional we ight reduction programs. However, given that this research that does not in clude a follow-up study, the obtained results are preliminary.