Implementing an Eating Disorder Prevention Program for Youth in Nova Scotia

NCT06963086 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: EDPP-P2
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 120
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this study is to evaluate the Body Project, which is an eating disorder prevention program for youth 15-22 years old. The main question it aims to answer is 'Can an eating disorder prevention program, specifically the Body Project, be successfully delivered to youth in Nova Scotia'? This study will determine the feasibility of implementing the Body Project in Nova Scotia by assessing the following objectives:

• Attend a total of 4-4.5 hours of Body Project group sessions, which are led by peer mentors.
• Complete outcome measure questionnaires before their first session and after their last session.
• Participate in a focus group with their session group members after their last session.

Conditions

Negative Affect; Body Dissatisfaction; Dietary Restraint; Body Image

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Acceptability of the Body Project as measured with focus groups

  All participants will complete a focus group with their fellow Body Project group members immediately following their final session. The focus group will follow a semi-structured guide based on a framework for assessing acceptability of health interventions.

  Immediately following completion of the final Body Project session for each group (week 2 for university and virtual groups; or week 6 for high school in-person groups)

Secondary Outcomes (7)

• Acceptability of the Body Project as measured with program dropout rate

  From a participant's first session (week 1) to last session (either week 2 or week 6, depending on group).

• Acceptability of the Body Project as measured with a questionnaire on participant satisfaction with the program

  After a participant's last session (either week 2 or week 6, depending on group).

• Demand for the Body Project as measured with recruitment rate

  At 24 months after recruitment begins.

• Effectiveness of the Body Project for reducing pursuit of the thin ideal as measured with the Thin-Ideal Internalization Scale (TIIS)

  From baseline to after a participant's last session (either week 2 or week 6, depending on group).

• Effectiveness of the Body Project for reducing body dissatisfaction as measured with the Satisfaction and Dissatisfaction with Body Parts Scale (SDBPS)

  From baseline to after a participant's last session (either week 2 or week 6, depending on group).

Other Outcomes (1)

• Integration of the Body Project as assessed with group facilitator surveys

  After a facilitator has completed their last session (at study completion - about 24 months after recruitment starts).

Study Arms (1)

the Body Project

EXPERIMENTAL

Behavioral: Eating disorder prevention program (the Body Project)

Interventions

Eating disorder prevention program (the Body Project) BEHAVIORAL

The Body Project is an eating disorder prevention program for girls and young women aged 15-22 years old. The program will be delivered in groups of 6-10 youth by peer mentors, and in two formats: in-person and virtual. We are assessing two versions of the program - a 6-session version (6 weekly 45-minute sessions) and a 2-session version (2 weekly 2-hour sessions). Participants will be divided into 4 cohorts: high school in-person, university in-person, high school-aged (15-18 years) virtual, and university-aged (19-22 years) virtual. The high school in-person groups will do the 6-session version, and the university in-person groups as well as all virtual groups will do 2 weekly 2-hour sessions. Both versions cover similar content, and use a scripted intervention manual.

the Body Project

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 15 Years - 22 Years
• Gender Eligibility Details: Eligible individuals are those who self-identify as a girl or woman.
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Self-identify as a girl/woman.
• Be between the ages of 15-22 years old.
• Able to complete English computer-based self-report questionnaires (with adequate accommodation, if necessary).
• Provides informed consent (or verbal assent with informed consent provided by parent/guardian).

You may not qualify if:

• Previous participation in the Body Project.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Susan Gamberg: lead
• Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre Foundation: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Abbie J Lane Memorial Building, QEII Health Sciences Centre, Nova Scotia Health Authority

Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 2E2, Canada

RECRUITING

Related Publications (2)

• Sekhon M, Cartwright M, Francis JJ. Acceptability of healthcare interventions: an overview of reviews and development of a theoretical framework. BMC Health Serv Res. 2017 Jan 26;17(1):88. doi: 10.1186/s12913-017-2031-8.

  PMID: 28126032 BACKGROUND

• Attkisson CC, Zwick R. The client satisfaction questionnaire. Psychometric properties and correlations with service utilization and psychotherapy outcome. Eval Program Plann. 1982;5(3):233-7. doi: 10.1016/0149-7189(82)90074-x.

  PMID: 10259963 BACKGROUND

Study Officials

• Susan Gamberg, PhD

  Nova Scotia Health Authority

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Susan Gamberg, PhD

CONTACT

902-473-2239; susan.gamberg@nshealth.ca

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Registered psychologist

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 21, 2025
• First Posted: May 8, 2025
• Study Start: January 14, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2026
• Last Updated: January 15, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CA (1)