Treatment of Body Image Disorders

Cognitive-behavioral treatment of body image disorders represents a promising addition to the standard therapy for anorexia and bulimia nervosa. The goals of body image therapy are the correction of distorted body perception, the reduction of negative body-related thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and the establishment of a more positive approach to one’s own body. Specific interventions thus target perceptual, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral levels. A particular focus is on the implementation of body exposure exercises, during which a systematic examination of one’s own body takes place. The effectiveness of body image-specific interventions for patients with eating disorders has been demonstrated in various studies.