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NCT Number: NCT06960668

Nature for Body Image

Nature exposure has been found to be particularly beneficial for body image, as recent studies have identified a positive association between time spent in nature and positive body image. Positive body image, defined as the ability to accept and respect one's body, has been linked to greater life satisfaction and engagement in healthy behaviors. Conversely, negative body image is recognized as a public health concern due to its detrimental effects on both physical and mental health. It has been associated with symptoms of Body Image Disorders (BIDs), including Eating Disorders (EDs) and Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD).

The Nature for Body Image (NBI) project aimed to examine the impact of a structured nature exposure intervention on improving body image among young women aged 18-35 years.

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Key information

Conditions

Body Image Behavior Behavior, Animal Eating Behaviors Feeding Behavior Interoception Self-Compassion

Age range

18 year–35 year

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Department of General Psychology, University of Padova

Padova, Italy

Location status: Recruiting

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Females
  • Age 18-35 years old

Exclusion criteria

  • Full-blown body image disorder

Treatment and study plan

Nature for Body Image

Behavioral

The intervention will include a range of activities in nature (e.g., in a public park), such as meditation, body scans, and grounding exercises.

Simple nature exposure

Behavioral

The intervention will simply involve spending time in nature (e.g., in a public park), without specific guidelines.

Structured Built Environment Exposure

Behavioral

The intervention will mirror the activities of the structured nature exposure intervention (e.g., meditation, body scans, and grounding exercises), but without any exposure to nature.

Primary outcomes

  1. Negative Body Image

    Time frame: 5 weeks

    Assessed with the Italian - Body Image Concern Inventory (I-BICI), a 19-item self-report questionnaire measuring negative body image. Scores range from 19 to 95, with higher scores indicating greater negative body image.

  2. Body Appreciation

    Time frame: 5 weeks

    Assessed with the Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2), a 10-item self-report questionnaire measuring body appreciation. Scores range from 10 to 50, with higher scores indicating greater body appreciation.

  3. Functionality appreciation

    Time frame: 5 weeks

    Assessed with the Functionality Appreciation Scale (FAS), a 7-item self-report questionnaire measuring functionality appreciation. Scores range from 7 to 35, with higher scores indicating greater functionality appreciation.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Dysfunctional Eating Behaviours and Risk of Developing Eating Disorders

    Time frame: 5 weeks

    Assessed with the Eating Disorder Risk Composite Score (EDRC) of the Eating Disorder Inventory-3 (EDI-3). The Eating Disorder Risk Composite Score (EDRC) investigates the risk of developing eating disorders with 25 items. Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater risk of developing eating disorders.

  2. Functional Eating Behaviors

    Time frame: 5 weeks

    Assessed with the Intuitive Eating Scale-2 (IES-2), a 23-item self-report questionnaire measuring intuitive eating. Scores range from 23 to 115, with higher scores indicating greater intuitive eating.

  3. Embodiment

    Time frame: 5 weeks

    Assessed with the Experience of Embodiment Scale (EES), a 34-item self-report questionnaire measuring embodiment. Scores range from 34 to 170, with higher scores indicating greater embodiment.

  4. Interoceptive Awareness

    Time frame: 5 weeks

    Assessed with the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA), a 32-item self-report questionnaire measuring interoceptive awareness. Scores range from 0 to 160, with higher scores indicating greater interoceptive awareness.

  5. Self-compassion

    Time frame: 5 weeks

    Assessed with the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS), a 26-item self-report questionnaire measuring self-compassion. Scores range from 26 to 130, with higher scores indicating greater self-compassion.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Silvia Cerea, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

++39 049 827 6683

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Padova

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Look at the Bright (Nature) Side: Improving Body Image and Associated Protective Factors and Reducing Body Image Threats With the Nature for Body Image (NBI) Project

Acronym: NBI

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2026
First posted
May 7, 2025
Registry last updated
May 16, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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