Evaluation of a school‐based program designed to improve body image satisfaction, global self‐esteem, and eating attitudes and behaviors: A replication study

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Abstract
Objective The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a life‐skills promotion program designed to improve body image satisfaction and global self‐esteem, while reducing negative eating attitudes and behaviors and feelings of perfectionism, all of which have been identified as predisposing factors to disordered eating. Method A total of 258 girls with a mean age of 11.8 years (intervention group = 182 and control group = 76) completed questionnaires before, and 1 week after, the six‐session school‐based program, and again 6 and 12 months later. Results The intervention was successful in improving body image satisfaction and global self‐esteem and in reducing dieting attitude scores at postintervention only. The gains were not maintained at the 12‐month follow‐up. Discussion The need to assess the influence of health promotion programs on predisposing risk factors, compared with problem‐based outcome measures, is discussed. © 2004 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 36: 1–11, 2004.