The Effectiveness of Emotion-Focused Therapy and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy on Improving Emotional Eating and Body Image in Overweight Women with Body Dysmorphic Symptoms
Keywords:
Emotion-focused therapy, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, emotional eating, body image, body mass index, body dysmorphic symptomsAbstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of emotion-focused therapy and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in improving emotional eating and body image among overweight women with symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder.
Methods and Materials: This quasi-experimental study employed a pretest–posttest–follow-up design with a control group. Forty-five overweight women with body dysmorphic symptoms were purposively selected and randomly assigned to two experimental groups and one control group (15 participants each). Data collection tools included the BMI Index, Body Dysmorphic Disorder Questionnaire, Dutch Emotional Eating Questionnaire, and Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire. The interventions—emotion-focused therapy and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy—were conducted in 8 group sessions. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANCOVA.
Findings: Both intervention methods significantly improved emotional eating behaviors and body image compared to the control group (p<0.01). Emotion-focused therapy was more effective for reducing emotional eating, whereas mindfulness-based cognitive therapy had a stronger impact on improving body image. These improvements remained stable in the follow-up stage.
Conclusion: The results suggest that both emotion-focused therapy and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy are effective in addressing psychological correlates of obesity and body dysmorphic symptoms. Clinicians may consider tailoring interventions based on the dominant symptom domain (emotional dysregulation vs. body dissatisfaction).
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Copyright (c) 2025 Roya Nemati Vanashi, Mahdieh Rahmanian, Ezzatollah Kordmirza Nikoozadeh, Amin Rafiepoor, Hasan Abdollahzadeh (Author)
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