The Role of Positive Body Image in Eating Disorders: Invited Narrative Review on the Current Evidence, Therapeutic Potential, and Directions for Future Research

OBJECTIVE: Stagnant improvements in eating disorder recovery rates have prompted calls for novel strategies to augment existing treatments. Fostering positive body image has emerged as one potentially promising avenue for treatment augmentation. In this narrative review, we evaluate this possibility by critically appraising research examining the role of positive body image in eating disorder psychopathology, with the aim of clarifying its therapeutic potential and guiding the next generation of research in this field. METHOD: We critically synthesized nearly two decades of research exploring the relevance of positive body image in eating disorders. RESULTS: A synthesis of empirical research provides evidence for the protective potential of positive body image: prospective studies suggest that body appreciation, functionality appreciation, and body image flexibility are associated with reduced eating disorder symptoms, while intervention research indicates that these components are amenable to change and may contribute to symptom improvement during eating disorder treatment. CONCLUSION: The current evidence provides a solid foundation for recognizing the clinical potential of fostering positive body image in eating disorder treatment, while also highlighting uncertainty about how, when, and for whom it may be most beneficial. We provide a series of future directions necessary for more fully understanding the clinical importance of positive body image in eating disorders and guiding its future integration into treatment.