Determining the Eeffectiveness of a Researcher-Made Package of Body Appreciation Training on Body Image Concerns (Interference with Social Functioning and Appearance Dissatisfaction) in Overweight Female Students

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of body appreciation training on body image concern and its dimensions in overweight female students. This research was conducted based on quasi-experimental method with pre-test and post-test designed with a control group. The statistical population of the study includes all female students with overweight in the second secondary school of Isfahan in the academic year ۲۰۲۱, which was selected using Cluster sampling method from the six education districts of Isfahan, two districts (۳ and ۶), Then, from these areas, ۴ girls' secondary schools were selected and from among the students of these schools, ۴۰ overweight students were selected by purposive sampling method and placed in two groups of control and experimental group (۲۰ people). Data collection tools included Littleton, Axum & Puri (۲۰۰۵) Concerns Body Image Questionnaire. The researcher-made training package for body appreciation was performed on the experimental group during ۹ sessions of ۹۰ minutes; During this period, the control group did not receive any intervention. The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS-۲۲ software with univariate analysis of covariance. The results showed that the difference between the experimental and control groups in concern about body image was statistically significant (P <۰.۰۰۱). Also, the results of multivariate analysis of covariance showed that body appreciation training improved the subscales of body image anxiety (interference in social functioning and dissatisfaction with appearance). As a result, body appreciation training can be used to advise adolescents about body dissatisfaction.