Feasibility, acceptability and efficacy of a school-based prevention programme for eating disorders: cluster randomised controlled trial

Background Body image dissatisfaction during adolescence is common but not benign. School-based interventions have the potential for wide reach, but scalability of previous programmes is limited by a reliance on external facilitators. Aims To assess the acceptability, feasibility and efficacy of a teacher-delivered body image intervention. Method A pilot clustered randomised controlled trial in which 16 classes of adolescent girls were allocated to a 6-session body image programme (n=261), or usual curriculum control (n = 187) (registration: ISRCTN42594993). Results Students in the intervention group had significantly improved body esteem and self-esteem and reduced thin-ideal internalisation. Effects for body esteem and thin-ideal internalisation were maintained for 3 months. There were no group differences for eating pathology, peer factors or depression. Acceptability, feasibility and efficacy varied between schools. Conclusions Teacher-delivered body image lessons have promise but further work is needed to increase efficacy and make interventions suitable across a range of schools.