Preventing Disordered Eating and Body Dissatisfaction Among High-risk Pregnant Individuals

NCT ID: NCT06659354

Last Updated: 2025-11-17

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 60 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2024-06-06
• Study Completion Date: 2026-04-30

Brief Summary

The investigators aim to conduct a feasibility randomized controlled trial (RCT) of an eating disorder prevention program (The Body Project, adapted for pregnancy) versus a health education control among pregnant individuals with histories of an ED. The investigators will test the feasibility, implementation outcomes, and its preliminary effectiveness in reducing the risk of elevated disordered eating and body dissatisfaction during pregnancy and postpartum.

Detailed Description

The investigators aim to conduct a feasibility randomized controlled trial (RCT) of an eating disorder prevention program (The Body Project, adapted for pregnancy) versus a health education control among pregnant individuals with histories of an ED. The investigators will test the feasibility, implementation outcomes, and its preliminary effectiveness in reducing the risk of elevated disordered eating and body dissatisfaction during pregnancy and postpartum.

The investigators will aim to recruit N=60 pregnant individuals (in their first or second trimester) with histories of an ED. Both the intervention and active control consist of 6, weekly, 1-hour group sessions (6-8 participants per group) delivered over Zoom. There are four assessment points: pre-intervention, post-intervention, 3 months postpartum, and 6 months postpartum. Participants will complete online surveys at each assessment point and a post-intervention exit interview (active intervention only).

Conditions

Eating Disorders; Body Dissatisfaction

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: PREVENTION
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Pregnant Body Project (PBP)

The Body Project is typically delivered as four 1-hour weekly sessions consisting of written, verbal, and behavioral exercises. The sessions aim to induce cognitive dissonance by encouraging participants to challenge the thin-ideal, a theoretically and empirically supported component of ED prevention. This adapted version of the Body Project (the Pregnant Body Project; PBP) consists of 6 1-hour, weekly group sessions delivered via Zoom. Since the target population consists of individuals with histories of an ED or disordered eating behaviors, PBP also includes elements from a treatment intervention (i.e., the Body Project Treatment 8.0 manual). PBP was adapted iteratively with a needs assessment, expert stakeholder input, and participant feedback following a mock trial with individuals with lived experience (i.e., individuals with histories of an ED who have given birth). This condition will be peer-delivered by facilitators with lived experience.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Pregnant Body Project (PBP)

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

The Body Project is typically delivered as four 1-hour weekly sessions consisting of written, verbal, and behavioral exercises. The sessions aim to induce cognitive dissonance by encouraging participants to challenge the thin-ideal, a theoretically and empirically supported component of ED prevention. This adapted version of the Body Project (the Pregnant Body Project; PBP) consists of 6 1-hour, weekly group sessions delivered via Zoom. Since the target population consists of individuals with histories of an ED or disordered eating behaviors, PBP also includes elements from a treatment intervention (i.e., the Body Project Treatment 8.0 manual). PBP was adapted iteratively with a needs assessment, expert stakeholder input, and participant feedback following a mock trial with individuals with lived experience (i.e., individuals with histories of an ED who have given birth). This condition will be peer-delivered by facilitators with lived experience.

Pregnancy Health Education (PHE)

This time- dose- and attention- matched control condition accounts for the potential effects of time spent and support from group members and facilitators. Participants assigned to the PHE group will also be asked to attend 6, 1-hour, weekly group sessions via Zoom. During the sessions participants receive psychoeducation on body image and disordered eating during pregnancy but will not engage in any dissonance-inducing exercises. Participants will also receive lifestyle education specific to pregnancy (e.g., proper nutrition, sleep, physical activity), tied back to body image and disordered eating.

Group Type: PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Pregnancy Health Education (PHE)

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

This time- dose- and attention- matched control condition accounts for the potential effects of time spent and support from group members and facilitators. Participants assigned to the PHE group will also be asked to attend 6, 1-hour, weekly group sessions via Zoom. During the sessions participants receive psychoeducation on body image and disordered eating during pregnancy but will not engage in any dissonance-inducing exercises. Participants will also receive lifestyle education specific to pregnancy (e.g., proper nutrition, sleep, physical activity), tied back to body image and disordered eating.

Interventions

Pregnant Body Project (PBP)

The Body Project is typically delivered as four 1-hour weekly sessions consisting of written, verbal, and behavioral exercises. The sessions aim to induce cognitive dissonance by encouraging participants to challenge the thin-ideal, a theoretically and empirically supported component of ED prevention. This adapted version of the Body Project (the Pregnant Body Project; PBP) consists of 6 1-hour, weekly group sessions delivered via Zoom. Since the target population consists of individuals with histories of an ED or disordered eating behaviors, PBP also includes elements from a treatment intervention (i.e., the Body Project Treatment 8.0 manual). PBP was adapted iteratively with a needs assessment, expert stakeholder input, and participant feedback following a mock trial with individuals with lived experience (i.e., individuals with histories of an ED who have given birth). This condition will be peer-delivered by facilitators with lived experience.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Pregnancy Health Education (PHE)

This time- dose- and attention- matched control condition accounts for the potential effects of time spent and support from group members and facilitators. Participants assigned to the PHE group will also be asked to attend 6, 1-hour, weekly group sessions via Zoom. During the sessions participants receive psychoeducation on body image and disordered eating during pregnancy but will not engage in any dissonance-inducing exercises. Participants will also receive lifestyle education specific to pregnancy (e.g., proper nutrition, sleep, physical activity), tied back to body image and disordered eating.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

1. Within the first or second trimester of pregnancy at enrollment

2. 18 years or older

3. Able to provide informed consent

4. Endorse a self-reported history of an eating disorder or disordered eating behaviors

5. Are willing and able to comply with all group and study procedures

6. English fluency and literacy

Exclusion Criteria

1. A diagnosis of bipolar or psychotic disorder, active mania or psychosis or substance abuse, an active eating disorder (active eating disorder symptomology informed by the Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment for Eating Disorders (SBIRT-ED) tool and clinician discretion), being at immediate risk of self-harm

2. Do not have access to a device with a camera

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: FEMALE
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Massachusetts General Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Rachel Vanderkruik

Associate Director of Research and Cognitive Behavioral Services

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Rachel Vanderkruik, PhD, MSc

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

The Center for Women's Mental Health at Massachusetts General Hospital

Locations

Massachusetts General Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Countries

United States

References

Vanderkruik R, Frisch CM, Woodworth EC, Scharner S, Bartels SJ, Freeman MP, Cohen LS, Stice E. The pregnant body project pilot RCT protocol: Preventing disordered eating behaviors in high-risk pregnant individuals. Contemp Clin Trials. 2025 Sep;156:108039. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2025.108039. Epub 2025 Jul 31.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 40752822 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

2023P000630

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id