What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a systematic review to identify and describe body-oriented therapies for eating disorders, investigating their effects and patient experiences.
What They Found
This review included 21 body-oriented therapy studies. Three out of four randomized controlled trials (RCTs) found some reduction in eating disorder symptoms, improved body attitude, and better emotional regulation. Other studies reported improvements in areas like emotional regulation, body perception, and overall eating disorder symptoms, with qualitative data showing a positive impact on participants' subjective body experience.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadian patients living with eating disorders, body-oriented therapies may offer a potential approach to improve their mind-body connection and how they experience their body. These therapies appear to require consistent practice and repetition to achieve lasting and meaningful changes in body experience and eating behaviours.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
The variable quality of the included studies means that caution is needed when interpreting the overall impact of body-oriented therapies on eating disorder outcomes.