Body ImageMBANCT04677400
More Than Body Appearance (MBA) Intervention
A study testing More than Body Appearance (MBA) Intervention in people with Body Image, run by University of Padova at 1 site in Italy.
Trial summary
The promotion of a positive body image is crucial to increase the efficacy of psychological interventions targeting body image. Recent studies indicated that positive body image also acts as a protective factor against the onset of ED symptoms. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Body Image
- What is being tested?
- More than Body Appearance (MBA) Intervention
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 100 participants
- Where
- 1 siteItaly
- Study dates
- 16 Nov 2020to 31 Dec 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Age 18 or above
Who cannot join
- Presence of a full-blown Body Image Disorder (BID);
- Current treatment for a BID.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: More Than Body Appearance (MBA) Intervention: Investigation of the Efficacy of a Psychological Online Intervention to Improve Body Image
The promotion of a positive body image is crucial to increase the efficacy of psychological interventions targeting body image. Recent studies indicated that positive body image also acts as a protective factor against the onset of ED symptoms. However, in the last decades, research has predominantly focused on reducing body dissatisfaction, with most available psychological interventions for body image adopting a disease reduction perspective while neglecting positive aspects of psychological functioning. This approach has shown limited efficacy in improving body image. Consequently, it is crucial to develop new psychological interventions including both perspectives (i.e., disease reduction and health promotion perspectives) to improve body image and to test their efficacy in different contexts and populations.
The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of a 2-week online psychological intervention (More than Body Appearance; MBA) designed to improve body image in young women at both high and low risk of developing Body Image Disorders and in female athletes practicing aesthetic sports.
- Conditions
- Body Image
- Being tested
- More than Body Appearance (MBA) Intervention
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
More than Body Appearance (MBA) InterventionOther
The MBA is an online psychological intervention designed to improve body image. The intervention lasts 15 days, and it comprises two types of activity (1st and 2nd week).
During the first week of the MBA intervention, participants sill read three blocks of psychoeducational material including information about: 1) body image; 2) positive body image and healthy lifestyles; and 3) body functionality.
During the second week participants produce 3 structured writing assessment pertaining to body functionality and why it is important. Each assignment focused on two areas of body functionality: 1) body's senses and physical capacities; 2) health and creative skills; 3) self-care/daily routine and communication with others. For each writing assignment, participants were asked to reflect, describe, and specify why these aspects of body functionality were personally important and meaningful to them.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental Group | Experimental | Participants in the Experimental group start the MBA intervention immediately (Time 0; T0). Receives: Other: More than Body Appearance (MBA) Intervention |
| Waiting-list group | Active comparator | Participants in the waiting-list group start the MBA intervention at Time 1 (T1; 15 days after the Experimental group). Receives: Other: More than Body Appearance (MBA) Intervention |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Body appreciation
Improvements in body appreciation assessed by means of a self-report questionnaire: Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2; Minimum value: 10; Maximum value: 50; higher scores represent higher body appreciation)
Measured: 2 weeks
Body dysmorphic disorder symptoms
Reductions in body dysmorphic disorder symptoms assessed by means of a self-report questionnaire: Questionario sul Dismorfismo Corporeo (QDC; Minimum value: 40; Maximum value: 280; higher scores represent higher body dysmorphic disorder symptoms)
Measured: 2 weeks
Functionality appreciation
Improvements in functionality appreciation assessed by means of a self-report questionnaire: Functional Appreciation Scale (FAS; Minimum value: 7; Maximum value: 35; higher scores represent higher body functionality)
Measured: 2 weeks
Secondary outcomes (2)
Risk of developing eating disorders
Reductions of the risk of developing eating disorders assessed by means of a self-report questionnaire: Eating Disorder Inventory-3 (EDI-3; Minimum value: 25; Maximum value: 150; higher scores represent higher risk)
Measured: 2 weeks
Intuitive eating
Improvements in intuitive eating assessed by means of a self-report questionnaire: Intuitive Eating Sale-2 (IES-2; Minimum value: 23; Maximum value: 115; higher scores represent higher intuitive eating practices)
Measured: 2 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted21 Dec 2020
- Study start16 Nov 2020
- Primary completion30 Dec 2022
- Study completion31 Dec 2025 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Body ImageStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Investigator
- Enrolment
- 100 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Padova
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Silvia Cerea, University of Padova
- Investigators
- Silvia Cerea, PhD, Principal investigator, Department of General Psychology, University of Padova
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04677400
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 3811
- Acronym
- MBA
- Status last verified
- Sep 2024
- First submitted
- 15 Dec 2020
- Last updated
- 28 Mar 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 28 Mar 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- More Than Body Appearance (MBA) Intervention: Investigation of the Efficacy of a Psychological Online Intervention to Improve Body Image
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04677400
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- MBA / 3811
- Conditions
- Body Image
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Unknown status
- Enrolment
- 100 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of PadovaUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 16 Nov 2020 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Dec 2022 (actual)
- Study completion
- 31 Dec 2025 (estimated)
- First posted
- 21 Dec 2020 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The promotion of a positive body image is crucial to increase the efficacy of psychological interventions targeting body image. Recent studies indicated that positive body image also acts as a protective factor against the onset of ED symptoms. However, in the last decades, research has predominantly focused on reducing body dissatisfaction, with most available psychological interventions for body image adopting a disease reduction perspective while neglecting positive aspects of psychological functioning. This approach has shown limited efficacy in improving body image. Consequently, it is crucial to develop new psychological interventions including both perspectives (i.e., disease reduction and health promotion perspectives) to improve body image and to test their efficacy in different contexts and populations.
The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of a 2-week online psychological intervention (More than Body Appearance; MBA) designed to improve body image in young women at both high and low risk of developing Body Image Disorders and in female athletes practicing aesthetic sports.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Single blind (investigator)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental Group | Experimental | Other: More than Body Appearance (MBA) InterventionParticipants in the Experimental group start the MBA intervention immediately (Time 0; T0). |
| Waiting-list group | Active comparator | Other: More than Body Appearance (MBA) InterventionParticipants in the waiting-list group start the MBA intervention at Time 1 (T1; 15 days after the Experimental group). |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Age 18 or above
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Presence of a full-blown Body Image Disorder (BID);
- Current treatment for a BID.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| More than Body Appearance (MBA) InterventionThe MBA is an online psychological intervention designed to improve body image. The intervention lasts 15 days, and it comprises two types of activity (1st and 2nd week). During the first week of the MBA intervention, participants sill read three blocks of psychoeducational material including information about: 1) body image; 2) positive body image and healthy lifestyles; and 3) body functionality. During the second week participants produce 3 structured writing assessment pertaining to body functionality and why it is important. Each assignment focused on two areas of body functionality: 1) body's senses and physical capacities; 2) health and creative skills; 3) self-care/daily routine and communication with others. For each writing assignment, participants were asked to reflect, describe, and specify why these aspects of body functionality were personally important and meaningful to them. | Other | Experimental Group, Waiting-list group |
Primary outcome
Body appreciation
Time frame: 2 weeks
Improvements in body appreciation assessed by means of a self-report questionnaire: Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2; Minimum value: 10; Maximum value: 50; higher scores represent higher body appreciation)
Body dysmorphic disorder symptoms
Time frame: 2 weeks
Reductions in body dysmorphic disorder symptoms assessed by means of a self-report questionnaire: Questionario sul Dismorfismo Corporeo (QDC; Minimum value: 40; Maximum value: 280; higher scores represent higher body dysmorphic disorder symptoms)
Functionality appreciation
Time frame: 2 weeks
Improvements in functionality appreciation assessed by means of a self-report questionnaire: Functional Appreciation Scale (FAS; Minimum value: 7; Maximum value: 35; higher scores represent higher body functionality)
2 secondary outcomes
Risk of developing eating disorders
Time frame: 2 weeks
Intuitive eating
Time frame: 2 weeks
Results and safety
Results are not available in the source record.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 28 Mar 2025.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Silvia Cerea, PhD principal investigator
Department of General Psychology, University of Padova
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing More than Body Appearance (MBA) Intervention in people with Body Image, run by University of Padova at 1 site in Italy.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: status not confirmed, as of the sponsor's last update on 28 Mar 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Italy. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
Results are not available in the source record.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Body appreciation (time frame: 2 weeks). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 28 Mar 2025.