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Adapting the body project to a non-western culture: a dissonance-based eating disorders prevention program for Saudi women

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Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The main aim of this study was to test the feasibility of an adapted version of the Body Project for young Saudi women as their eating and body issues are comparable to western culture and linked to internalization of westernization. The study also aims to assess predictors of attrition and preliminary effectiveness.

Method

The intervention was adapted to local culture in collaboration with a co-director of the Body Project Collaborative. 48 Saudi undergraduate females were recruited, mean age was 19.16 years (SD = 1.23), baseline BMI was (M = 24.42, SD = 5.46). Eating pathology, body image, and comorbidities were assessed pre and post the intervention with adapted self-report measures.

Results

The Body Project is feasible for young Saudi women. Participants were willing to enrol, they found the intervention useful, understandable, and enjoyable. There was no difference between completers and non-completers. The preliminary effect sizes are similar or higher than other effectiveness trials in other cultures.

Conclusion

A cognitive dissonance-based eating disorders prevention can be applicable across cultures where westernization is an influence. The effectiveness is yet to be affirmed. Future research is needed to investigate effectiveness in further robust studies and a bigger sample.

Evidence-based medicine

Level IV (evidence obtained from multiple time series with or without the intervention, such as case studies. Dramatic results in uncontrolled trials might also be regarded as this type of evidence)

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Availability of data and materials

The data used are available on reasonable request to the corresponding author.

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Acknowledgement

This research was funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University through the Fast-track Research Funding Program.

Funding

This research was funded by Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Basic Sciences and Studies Department, College of Community, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh, 11564, Saudi Arabia

    Munirah AlShebali

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK

    Munirah AlShebali, Stephen Kellett & Glenn Waller

  3. Department of Psychology, Trinity University, San Antonio, USA

    Carolyn Becker

  4. Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, SABIC Psychological Health Research and Applications Chair, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Ahmad AlHadi

Authors
  1. Munirah AlShebali
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  2. Carolyn Becker
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  4. Ahmad AlHadi
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  5. Glenn Waller
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Contributions

MA: Investigation, Resources, Data Curation, Writing—Original Draft, Funding acquisition, Validation, Project administration. CB: Methodology. SK: Supervision, Writing—Review and Editing. AA: Supervision, Writing—Review and Editing GW: Methodology, Conceptualization, Visualization, Formal analysis, Supervision, Writing—Review and Editing.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Munirah AlShebali.

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Conflict of interest

CB earns royalties from the Body Project. The authors have no other interests to declare.

Ethical approval

Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the institution review board in Princess Nourah mint Abdulrahman University.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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AlShebali, M., Becker, C., Kellett, S. et al. Adapting the body project to a non-western culture: a dissonance-based eating disorders prevention program for Saudi women. Eat Weight Disord 26, 2503–2512 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-021-01104-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-021-01104-9

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