Healthy Young AdultsStrong MindsNCT07789405
Strong Minds: A Digital Intervention Targeting Body Image and Psychological Well-being Among Adolescent Male Fitness Club Members
A study testing Website in people with Healthy Young Adults and Body Image, run by Norwegian School of Sport Sciences.
Trial summary
The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether a digital intervention can improve body image and psychological well-being among adolescent boys who attend fitness clubs. Fitness club environments and social media often promote appearance ideals related to muscularity and leanness, which may contribute to body… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 15 to 18 years, men onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Healthy Young Adults, Body Image, Psychological Well-being
- What is being tested?
- Website
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 260 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- Jan 2028to Sep 2028
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 15 to 18 years
- Men only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child, Adult
Who may be able to join
- Cisgender boy
- Aged 15 to 18 years
- Current member of a fitness club
- Attends the fitness club at least once per week
- Able to read and understand Norwegian
- Provides informed consent (parental/guardian consent required for participants younger than 16 years)
Who cannot join
- Does not meet one or more of the inclusion criteria
- Not able to provide informed consent
- Previously enrolled in the study
About this study
Official title: Strong Minds: A Digital Intervention Targeting Body Image and Psychological Well-Being Among Adolescent Male Fitness Club Members
The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether a digital intervention can improve body image and psychological well-being among adolescent boys who attend fitness clubs. Fitness club environments and social media often promote appearance ideals related to muscularity and leanness, which may contribute to body appearance pressure, body dissatisfaction, and psychological distress among boys.
In this cluster-randomized controlled trial, approximately 260 boys aged 15 to 18 years will be recruited from fitness clubs in Oslo, Norway. Participants from fitness clubs assigned to the intervention group will receive access to a 12-week website-based program consisting of four interactive modules focusing on body image, psychological well-being, critical social media literacy, and attitudes toward food and sports supplements. Participants in the control group will continue their usual activities.
The study will examine whether the intervention reduces internalization of appearance ideals and body appearance pressure and improves body appreciation, health-related quality of life, psychological well-being, social media-related behaviors, and attitudes toward food and sports supplements. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and at a 6-month follow-up.
Read the detailed description
The prevalence of body image concerns among adolescent boys has increased in recent years, accompanied by growing internalization of appearance ideals emphasizing muscularity, leanness, and physical performance. Fitness clubs represent an important social and exercise arena for adolescent boys and may contribute both positively and negatively to psychological well-being. While regular physical activity is associated with health benefits, fitness club environments often expose young males to appearance-focused norms, body comparisons, and social influences reinforced through social media and commercial fitness culture. These factors may increase body appearance pressure, body dissatisfaction, unhealthy attitudes toward food and supplements, and vulnerability to psychological distress. Despite the increasing participation of adolescent boys in fitness clubs, few evidence-based interventions have been developed for this population.
The Strong Minds study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a digital intervention designed to promote positive body image and psychological well-being among adolescent male fitness club members. The intervention targets body image-related constructs, social media literacy, psychological well-being, and attitudes related to food and sports supplements. The study further seeks to examine mechanisms through which the intervention may influence outcomes, including body appreciation and social media-related processes.
The study will be conducted as a cluster-randomized controlled trial involving fitness clubs in Oslo, Norway. Fitness clubs will serve as the unit of randomization and will be allocated to either an intervention condition or a usual-routine control condition. Approximately 260 participants will be recruited. Data collection will occur at baseline, immediately following the intervention period, and six months after completion of the intervention.
Participants assigned to the intervention group will receive access to a website-based program delivered over 12 weeks. The intervention consists of four modules released at three-week intervals. To maximize engagement and feasibility, the intervention has been designed as a brief and interactive digital experience requiring approximately 75 minutes of total participation. Participants in the control group will continue their usual activities and will receive access to the intervention after study completion.
The intervention content has been developed using evidence-based approaches from body image prevention research, social media literacy interventions, positive psychology, embodiment theory, and sociocultural models of body image development. The website uses an interactive narrative format centered on realistic situations encountered by adolescent boys in fitness club settings. Through short episodes, quizzes, reflection exercises, and individualized feedback, participants are encouraged to critically evaluate appearance ideals, social media messages, body-related pressures, and health information encountered in everyday life. The intervention addresses four core themes: body image, psychological well-being, critical social media literacy, and attitudes toward food and sports supplements.
To enhance relevance, usability, and participant engagement, the intervention will be co-created with a Collaborative Competence Group consisting of young males with lived experience of body image concerns and/or disordered eating related to gym participation. User involvement will contribute to the development of content, design, language, functionality, and overall user experience.
Data will be collected through online questionnaires assessing body image-related constructs, body appreciation, health-related quality of life, psychological distress, social media use and appearance comparison, food-related attitudes, attitudes toward sports supplements, exercise habits, and demographic characteristics. Intervention adherence will be monitored through website analytics, including module completion and login frequency.
The study is funded by the Dam Foundation through ROS (Counselling and Support for Eating Disorders). Ethical approval procedures have been completed in accordance with Norwegian regulations, and all participants will provide informed consent before participation. The findings from the Strong Minds study will contribute to knowledge regarding scalable and accessible strategies for promoting positive body image and psychological well-being among adolescent boys in fitness club environments.
- Conditions
- Healthy Young Adults, Body Image, Psychological Well-being, Body Dissatisfaction, Social Media
- Being tested
- Website
- Keywords
- Adolescent Boys, Fitness Clubs, Body Image, Body Appreciation, Body Image Pressure, Social Media Literacy, Psychological Well-Being, Digital Intervention, Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial
- Medical subject headings
- Psychological Well-Being
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
WebsiteOther
Participants assigned to the intervention arm will receive access to the Strong Minds website, a 12-week digital intervention designed to promote positive body image and psychological well-being among adolescent male fitness club members. The intervention consists of four interactive modules released every three weeks and addresses body image, psychological well-being, critical social media literacy, and attitudes toward food and sports supplements. Modules include brief narrative-based content, quizzes, personalized feedback, and reflection exercises. Total engagement time is approximately 75 minutes across the 12-week intervention period.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Digital intervention | Experimental | Participants assigned to the intervention arm will receive access to a website, a 12-week digital intervention designed to promote positive body image and psychological well-being among adolescent male fitness club members. The intervention consists of four interactive modules released every three weeks and addresses body image, psychological well-being, critical social media literacy, and attitudes toward food and sports supplements. Modules include brief narrative-based content, quizzes, personalized feedback, and reflection exercises. Total engagement time is approximately 75 minutes across the 12-week intervention period. Receives: Other: Website |
| Control group | No intervention | Participants assigned to the control condition will continue their regular exercise and daily activities without receiving the Strong Minds intervention during the 12-week trial period. Outcome assessments will be conducted at the same time points as in the intervention group (baseline, post-intervention, and 6-month follow-up). Access to the digital intervention will be provided after completion of the randomized controlled trial. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Internalization
Internalization of appearance ideals (Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire-4 [SATAQ-4]). This outcome assesses the extent to which participants adopt societal appearance ideals related to muscularity, leanness, and low body fat as personal standards for evaluating their own appearance. Internalization is measured using the relevant SATAQ-4 subscales. Items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (definitely disagree) to 5 (definitely agree), with higher scores indicating greater internalization of societal appearance ideals. The outcome will be assessed at baseline, post-intervention (12 weeks), and 6-month follow-up.
Measured: Baseline, post-intervention (12 weeks), and 6-month follow-up.
Body appearance pressure
Body appearance pressure measured using the Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire-4 Revised (SATAQ-4R). Scores range from 1 to 5, with higher scores indicating greater perceived appearance-related pressure from media and sociocultural influences.
Measured: Baseline, post-intervention (12 weeks), and 6-month follow-up.
Secondary outcomes (6)
Body appreciation
The extent to which participants respect, accept, and value their bodies and maintain a positive body image despite societal appearance pressures.
Measured: Baseline, post-intervention (12 weeks), and 6-month follow-up.
Social Media use
Self-reported social media use, including platform(s) used, frequency of use per day, time spent on social media (hours/day), exposure to appearance-related content, appearance comparison, selfie posting, and motivations for use.
Measured: Baseline, post-intervention (12 weeks), and 6-month follow-up.
General health-related quality of life.
Self-reported health-related quality of life measured using the KIDSCREEN-10 questionnaire. Higher scores indicate better quality of life and well-being.
Measured: Baseline, post-intervention (12 weeks), and 6-month follow-up.
Psychological distress
Psychological distress assessed using the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-10 (HSCL-10). The HSCL-10 is a self-report measure of symptoms of anxiety and depression. The total score is calculated as the mean of the 10 items, with response options ranging from 1 (not at all) to 4 (extremely). Scores range from 1 to 4, with higher scores indicating greater psychological distress and a worse outcome.
Measured: Baseline, post-intervention (12 weeks), and 6-month follow-up.
Food-related attitudes.
Food-related attitudes and behaviors assessed using the Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26). The EAT-26 is a self-report measure of attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors associated with eating-related concerns and disordered eating. The total score ranges from 0 to 78, with higher scores indicating more problematic eating attitudes and behaviors and a worse outcome. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, post-intervention (12 weeks), and 6-month follow-up.
Measured: Baseline, post-intervention (12 weeks), and 6-month follow-up.
Attitudes towards sports supplements
Questions regarding anabolic steroids, testosterone preparations, growth hormone, ephedrine, and Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMS)) [GU33.1]based on Ungdata, an annual Norwegian data collection scheme.
Measured: Baseline, post-intervention (12 weeks), and 6-month follow-up.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted27 Aug 2026
- Study startJan 2028 (estimated)
- Primary completionSep 2028 (estimated)
- Study completionSep 2028 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Healthy Young AdultsStudies 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
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 260 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Norwegian School of Sport Sciences
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Christina Gjestvang, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07789405
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- Strong Minds
- Other IDs
- #SDAM_FOR999270
- Acronym
- Strong Minds
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 18 Aug 2026
- Last updated
- 27 Aug 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: Individual participant data that have been de-identified, including demographic characteristics, outcome measures, and questionnaire data underlying the published results, will be made available to qualified researchers upon reasonable request following publication of the main study findings. Data sharing will be conducted in accordance with applicable ethical approvals, data protection regulations, and FAIR data principles.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 27 Aug 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Strong Minds: A Digital Intervention Targeting Body Image and Psychological Well-Being Among Adolescent Male Fitness Club Members
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07789405
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- Strong Minds / Strong Minds
- Conditions
- Healthy Young Adults, Body Image, Psychological Well-being, Body Dissatisfaction, Social Media
- Keywords
- Adolescent Boys, Fitness Clubs, Body Image, Body Appreciation, Body Image Pressure, Social Media Literacy, Psychological Well-Being, Digital Intervention
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 260 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Norwegian School of Sport SciencesUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Jan 2028 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- Sep 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Sep 2028 (estimated)
- First posted
- 27 Aug 2026 (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 purpose of this study is to evaluate whether a digital intervention can improve body image and psychological well-being among adolescent boys who attend fitness clubs. Fitness club environments and social media often promote appearance ideals related to muscularity and leanness, which may contribute to body appearance pressure, body dissatisfaction, and psychological distress among boys.
In this cluster-randomized controlled trial, approximately 260 boys aged 15 to 18 years will be recruited from fitness clubs in Oslo, Norway. Participants from fitness clubs assigned to the intervention group will receive access to a 12-week website-based program consisting of four interactive modules focusing on body image, psychological well-being, critical social media literacy, and attitudes toward food and sports supplements. Participants in the control group will continue their usual activities.
The study will examine whether the intervention reduces internalization of appearance ideals and body appearance pressure and improves body appreciation, health-related quality of life, psychological well-being, social media-related behaviors, and attitudes toward food and sports supplements. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and at a 6-month follow-up.
Detailed description
The prevalence of body image concerns among adolescent boys has increased in recent years, accompanied by growing internalization of appearance ideals emphasizing muscularity, leanness, and physical performance. Fitness clubs represent an important social and exercise arena for adolescent boys and may contribute both positively and negatively to psychological well-being. While regular physical activity is associated with health benefits, fitness club environments often expose young males to appearance-focused norms, body comparisons, and social influences reinforced through social media and commercial fitness culture. These factors may increase body appearance pressure, body dissatisfaction, unhealthy attitudes toward food and supplements, and vulnerability to psychological distress. Despite the increasing participation of adolescent boys in fitness clubs, few evidence-based interventions have been developed for this population.
The Strong Minds study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a digital intervention designed to promote positive body image and psychological well-being among adolescent male fitness club members. The intervention targets body image-related constructs, social media literacy, psychological well-being, and attitudes related to food and sports supplements. The study further seeks to examine mechanisms through which the intervention may influence outcomes, including body appreciation and social media-related processes.
The study will be conducted as a cluster-randomized controlled trial involving fitness clubs in Oslo, Norway. Fitness clubs will serve as the unit of randomization and will be allocated to either an intervention condition or a usual-routine control condition. Approximately 260 participants will be recruited. Data collection will occur at baseline, immediately following the intervention period, and six months after completion of the intervention.
Participants assigned to the intervention group will receive access to a website-based program delivered over 12 weeks. The intervention consists of four modules released at three-week intervals. To maximize engagement and feasibility, the intervention has been designed as a brief and interactive digital experience requiring approximately 75 minutes of total participation. Participants in the control group will continue their usual activities and will receive access to the intervention after study completion.
The intervention content has been developed using evidence-based approaches from body image prevention research, social media literacy interventions, positive psychology, embodiment theory, and sociocultural models of body image development. The website uses an interactive narrative format centered on realistic situations encountered by adolescent boys in fitness club settings. Through short episodes, quizzes, reflection exercises, and individualized feedback, participants are encouraged to critically evaluate appearance ideals, social media messages, body-related pressures, and health information encountered in everyday life. The intervention addresses four core themes: body image, psychological well-being, critical social media literacy, and attitudes toward food and sports supplements.
To enhance relevance, usability, and participant engagement, the intervention will be co-created with a Collaborative Competence Group consisting of young males with lived experience of body image concerns and/or disordered eating related to gym participation. User involvement will contribute to the development of content, design, language, functionality, and overall user experience.
Data will be collected through online questionnaires assessing body image-related constructs, body appreciation, health-related quality of life, psychological distress, social media use and appearance comparison, food-related attitudes, attitudes toward sports supplements, exercise habits, and demographic characteristics. Intervention adherence will be monitored through website analytics, including module completion and login frequency.
The study is funded by the Dam Foundation through ROS (Counselling and Support for Eating Disorders). Ethical approval procedures have been completed in accordance with Norwegian regulations, and all participants will provide informed consent before participation. The findings from the Strong Minds study will contribute to knowledge regarding scalable and accessible strategies for promoting positive body image and psychological well-being among adolescent boys in fitness club environments.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Digital intervention | Experimental | Other: WebsiteParticipants assigned to the intervention arm will receive access to a website, a 12-week digital intervention designed to promote positive body image and psychological well-being among adolescent male fitness club members. The intervention consists of four interactive modules released every three weeks and addresses body image, psychological well-being, critical social media literacy, and attitudes toward food and sports supplements. Modules include brief narrative-based content, quizzes, personalized feedback, and reflection exercises. Total engagement time is approximately 75 minutes across the 12-week intervention period. |
| Control group | No intervention | –Participants assigned to the control condition will continue their regular exercise and daily activities without receiving the Strong Minds intervention during the 12-week trial period. Outcome assessments will be conducted at the same time points as in the intervention group (baseline, post-intervention, and 6-month follow-up). Access to the digital intervention will be provided after completion of the randomized controlled trial. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 15 to 18 years
- Sex
- Male only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Cisgender boy
- Aged 15 to 18 years
- Current member of a fitness club
- Attends the fitness club at least once per week
- Able to read and understand Norwegian
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Does not meet one or more of the inclusion criteria
- Not able to provide informed consent
- Previously enrolled in the study
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 |
|---|---|---|
| WebsiteParticipants assigned to the intervention arm will receive access to the Strong Minds website, a 12-week digital intervention designed to promote positive body image and psychological well-being among adolescent male fitness club members. The intervention consists of four interactive modules released every three weeks and addresses body image, psychological well-being, critical social media literacy, and attitudes toward food and sports supplements. Modules include brief narrative-based content, quizzes, personalized feedback, and reflection exercises. Total engagement time is approximately 75 minutes across the 12-week intervention period. | Other | Digital intervention |
Primary outcome
Internalization
Time frame: Baseline, post-intervention (12 weeks), and 6-month follow-up.
Internalization of appearance ideals (Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire-4 [SATAQ-4]). This outcome assesses the extent to which participants adopt societal appearance ideals related to muscularity, leanness, and low body fat as personal standards for evaluating their own appearance. Internalization is measured using the relevant SATAQ-4 subscales. Items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (definitely disagree) to 5 (definitely agree), with higher scores indicating greater internalization of societal appearance ideals. The outcome will be assessed at baseline, post-intervention (12 weeks), and 6-month follow-up.
Body appearance pressure
Time frame: Baseline, post-intervention (12 weeks), and 6-month follow-up.
Body appearance pressure measured using the Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire-4 Revised (SATAQ-4R). Scores range from 1 to 5, with higher scores indicating greater perceived appearance-related pressure from media and sociocultural influences.
6 secondary outcomes
Body appreciation
Time frame: Baseline, post-intervention (12 weeks), and 6-month follow-up.
Social Media use
Time frame: Baseline, post-intervention (12 weeks), and 6-month follow-up.
General health-related quality of life.
Time frame: Baseline, post-intervention (12 weeks), and 6-month follow-up.
Psychological distress
Time frame: Baseline, post-intervention (12 weeks), and 6-month follow-up.
Food-related attitudes.
Time frame: Baseline, post-intervention (12 weeks), and 6-month follow-up.
Attitudes towards sports supplements
Time frame: Baseline, post-intervention (12 weeks), and 6-month follow-up.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 27 Aug 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. Individual participant data that have been de-identified, including demographic characteristics, outcome measures, and questionnaire data underlying the published results, will be made available to qualified researchers upon reasonable request following publication of the main study findings. Data sharing will be conducted in accordance with applicable ethical approvals, data protection regulations, and FAIR data principles.
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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.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Website in people with Healthy Young Adults and Body Image, run by Norwegian School of Sport Sciences.
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 6 inclusion and 3 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 27 Aug 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
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?
Internalization (time frame: Baseline, post-intervention (12 weeks), and 6-month follow-up.). The study lists 2 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 27 Aug 2026.