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Designing and implementing a positive body image program: Unchartered territory with a diverse team of participants

Blogpost by  Aly Bailey

To date, few published body image studies have involved participants in helping to design body image programs. We believe action research offers a new way to approach research beyond traditional body image research methods (i.e., questionnaires) and approaches (i.e., randomized control trail) to promoting positive body image as it seeks the critical understanding and the active engagement of stakeholders (Brydon-Miller, Greenwood, & Maguire, 2003). Action research studies in body image have contributed largely to the field by providing positive social change within their communities.

An action research project that particularly inspired our engagement with action research was by McHugh and Kowalski (2010). Using participatory action research, they worked with Indigenous adolescent girls to create a positive body image program to teach ways to manage body image experiences. The project was transformative for both researchers and participants with provincial and national exposure of body image experiences within Indigenous communities and the broader public. To build on previously conducted action research projects (e.g., Piran, 2001; Shea et al., 2011; McHugh & Kowlaski, 2010), the current study was designed to work with populations who have been largely neglected in the body image program research. This is the first study to design, test, and implement a positive body image program with a diversity of people including older adults and people with varying disabilities or chronic conditions. The resulting positive body image program, named BIAS (Body Image Awareness Seminars), is available online (exerciseandbodyimagelab.com) and in print (manual guide) for future facilitators to use.

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We invite you to learn more about this experience by reading our article HERE. Free 30-day access is available for this article beginning 19 February.

After you’ve had a chance to read this piece, please share your thoughts, ideas, or experiences with our community in the comments below so we can continue this discussion!