Quasiexperimental study shows improved body image and reduced food cravings in overweight individuals, suggesting effective therapeutic interventions.
Background: Obesity is considered a critical risk factor for physical illnesses and psychological disorders and can impact mental health and general health due to the acquisition of extra energy. The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of virtual reality exposure therapy for obesity on body image and food craving of overweight individuals. Materials and Methods: The research design was quasiexperimental with a pretest, post-test, control group, and follow-up. The statistical population included individuals referred to slimming clinics in Isfahan from 2022 to 2023. The sample included 30 obese individuals selected purposively considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria and completed the Body Shape Questionnaire and Food Craving Questionnaire-Trait. Data were analyzed using the repeated measures analysis of variance. Results: The results indicated that virtual reality therapy for obesity significantly affected body image and food craving. Furthermore, the effects were maintained during the follow-up phase. Conclusion: It can be concluded that virtual reality technologies can be effective tools to assist overweight individuals in forming healthier behaviors and gaining new experiences in improving dietary behaviors, thus reducing body image dissatisfaction.
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Kamali et al. (2026) studied this question.
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