Meneguzzo Paolo, Cazzola Chiara, Buscaglia Francesca, Pillan Anna, Pettenuzzo Filippo, Todisco Patrizia
Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani 2, Padova, 35128, Italy.
Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
J Eat Disord. 2025 Apr 10;13(1):64. doi: 10.1186/s40337-025-01249-3.
Body image (BI) disturbances are central to the psychopathology of eating disorders (EDs), where body dissatisfaction and disembodiment often co-occur, exacerbating negative body image experiences. We aimed to examine body image flexibility and embodiment in women with EDs and a general population (GP) sample.
Data were collected from 172 participants, including 103 GP women and 69 women with EDs. Standardized questionnaires measuring body uneasiness, interoceptive awareness, and body image acceptance were administered. Additionally, a pilot group therapy intervention targeting body image concerns was evaluated with 24 ED participants.
Findings suggest that significant differences in embodiment-related features emerged (self-regulation and body trust), while both groups reported similar levels of interoceptive awareness. Network analysis revealed distinct patterns of partial correlations between variables within each group, with higher centrality for body image concerns and weight phobia in EDs. In contrast, the GP group exhibited stronger connections between embodiment features such as attention regulation and body image acceptance. The pilot intervention showed promise in improving body image flexibility and reducing body image concerns.
These results underscore the importance of fostering body image flexibility and embodiment in the clinical treatment of EDs, suggesting potential pathways for enhancing therapeutic interventions.
身体意象（BI）障碍是进食障碍（EDs）心理病理学的核心，身体不满和脱离身体感常同时出现，加剧负面的身体意象体验。我们旨在研究进食障碍女性和普通人群（GP）样本中的身体意象灵活性和身体体现。
收集了172名参与者的数据，包括103名普通女性和69名进食障碍女性。使用标准化问卷测量身体不安、内感受觉知和身体意象接受度。此外，对24名进食障碍参与者进行了一项针对身体意象问题的试点团体治疗干预评估。
研究结果表明，在身体体现相关特征（自我调节和身体信任）方面出现了显著差异，而两组报告的内感受觉知水平相似。网络分析揭示了每组变量之间不同的偏相关模式，进食障碍中身体意象问题和体重恐惧症的中心性更高。相比之下，表示关注调节和身体意象接受等身体体现特征之间的联系，普通人群组更强。试点干预在改善身体意象灵活性和减少身体意象问题方面显示出前景。
这些结果强调了在进食障碍临床治疗中培养身体意象灵活性和身体体现的重要性，为加强治疗干预提供了潜在途径。
