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Completed

NCT Number: NCT02901457

"The Healthy Body Image" (HBI) Program: A Program to Promote a Positive Body Image

Too many Norwegian adolescents experience severe body dissatisfaction (40-70 %), and strive to accomplish the "perfect body". At the same time, only 50 % meet the government's recommendations on physical activity and intake of fruits and vegetables. Also, 14-24 % has unhealthy sleeping habits. Optimizing these lifestyle factors is associated with physical and psychological health. These factors, along with the pressure to obtain the "perfect" body, are threatening the adolescent's physical and psychological health, jfr. Meld St nr 19. It is now a need for knowledge on how the investigators can contribute to promote positive body experience among the adolescents.

It has recently, through a controlled study on elite youth athletes at Norwegian sports high schools, been shown that it is possible to change eating habits, improve body image and reduce new cases of eating disorder. It is now desirable to test an adapted program through a school-based program at regular Norwegian high school students (12th grade). Today, no controlled, school-based intervention studies with long-term follow-up have been conducted.

The main aim of this project is to investigate if it is possible, through a school-based intervention program (Healthy Body Intervention), to promote positive body image, increase physical activity level, and healthy eating and sleeping habits in both boys and girls at Norwegian high schools.

The intervention program will contribute with new evidence-based knowledge on the effect of an adapted health-promoting program.

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Key information

Conditions

Quality of Life Behavior Behavior, Animal Eating Behaviors Feeding Behavior Motor Activity Physical Activity

Age range

16 year–19 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Norwegian School of Sports Sciences

Oslo, 0806, Norway

About this study

The design is a school-based randomized controlled trial (RCT) intervention, using the methods questionnaire and interview to obtain data. Based on statistical power analyses, all high schools in Oslo and Akershus County will be asked to participate in the study. After the schools have responded, consenting schools will be stratified (by size and geographical affiliation) and randomized to the intervention or the control condition. To minimize contamination biases within schools, the investigators prepare a cluster-randomized design.The population should contain 17-20 schools (1400 students at 2nd year). Data collection is conducted through pre-test and post-test 1, 2, and 3 (acute, 3, and 12 month post-intervention). At post-test 1, a selection is invited to participate in an interview about feasibility in addition to the questionnaire. It is an intervention for students containing interactive lecturers with discussion, team work, discussions and home assignments.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Norwegian high schools
  • High schools located in either Oslo or Akershus County
  • Students in the 2nd grade fall 2016
  • Students within academic specialization education programs
  • Teachers teaching included students in Norwegian, Social studies, Physical education, and contact teachers
  • School nurses working at the randomly selected schools
  • School administrators at randomly selected schools

Exclusion criteria

  • Schools that follow foreign school systems
  • Students within vocational education programs
  • School departments connected to prison

Treatment and study plan

The "Healthy Body Image" intervention

Other

Interactive workshops (3 x 90 minutes) include training techniques to increase media literacy, enhance self-esteem, positive body image, awareness of perfectionism, and include discussions related to truths and myths related to life style factors. Homework is an extension of each workshop that is simple and not time-consuming tasks to increase reflection and awareness of how all the mentioned factors are a part of their lives.

Other names: Healthy Body Image

Primary outcomes

  1. Proximal and distal effect of the "Healthy Body Intervention" (HBI) program on change in positive body image

    Time frame: Participants are asked to complete the questionnaire at post-tests planned at week 1, 3 months and 12 months after intervention

    Participants are asked to respond to questions by choosing from different responses presented on a likert scale. Positive body image is assessed by the Experience of Embodiment Scale.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Proximal and distal effect of the HBI program on change in self-esteem

    Time frame: Participants are asked to complete the questionnaire at post-tests planned at week 1, 3 months and 12 months after intervention

    Participants are asked to respond to questions by choosing from different responses presented on a likert scale. The scale used is the Rosenberg Self-esteem scale.

  2. Proximal and distal effect of the "Healthy Body Intervention" (HBI) program on change in the prevalence of students meeting the recommendations for health promoting physical activity.

    Time frame: Participants are asked to complete the questionnaire at post-tests planned at week 1, 3 months and 12 months after intervention

    The outcome will be measured through a self-developed Physical Activity level/habit questionnaire, including choosing a specific response on a likert scale and response through open ended questions.

  3. Experience of the intervention program and the feasibility of running the HBI program in schools.

    Time frame: Post-test is planned within first week after intervention

    To measure the outcome, a self-developed interview guide in addition to a self-developed questionnaire asking students and school staff about the experience of the intervention program and the feasibility of the intervention. When answering the questionnaire, participants are asked to respond by choosing a response on a likert scale.

  4. Proximal and distal effect of the HBI program on change in eating behavior (nutrition intake

    Time frame: Participants are asked to complete the questionnaire at post-tests planned at week 1, 3 months and 12 months after intervention

    The outcome will be measured through a self-developed Food frequency questionnaire where responses are chosen from a likert scale.

  5. Proximal and distal effect of the HBI program on change in sleeping quality and sleep patterns

    Time frame: Participants are asked to complete the questionnaire at post-tests planned at week 1, 3 months and 12 months after intervention

    The outcome is measured through The Bergen Insomnia Scale, 6 items and 3 items assessing delayed sleep phase and by asking the participants (using a likert scale) how many hours of sleep they usually get per night during a normal weekday and a weekend day.

  6. Proximal and distal effect of the HBI program on change in academic achievements

    Time frame: Participants are asked to complete the questions included in the questionnaire package at post-tests planned at week 1, 3 months and 12 months after intervention

    Participants are asked to choose the correct grade they received on their last report card, from a scale presenting the possible grades.

  7. Proximal and distal effect of the "Healthy Body Intervention" (HBI) program on change in health related quality of life

    Time frame: Participants are asked to complete the questionnaire containing all the below presented measures at post-tests planned at week 1, 3 months and 12 months after intervention

    Participants are asked to respond to questions by choosing from different responses presented on a likert scale. Health related quality of life will be assessed through the "Screening for and Promotion of Health Related Quality of Life in Children an Adolescents - a European Public Health Perspective - 10" (KIDSKREEN-10).

  8. Proximal and distal effect of the HBI program on change in symptoms of eating disorders

    Time frame: Participants are asked to complete the questionnaire at post-tests planned at week 1, 3 months and 12 months after intervention

    Symptoms of eating disorders is assessed by the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire - 11 (EDE-Q 11)

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Norwegian School of Sport Sciences

Other

Collaborators

  • Norwegian Extra Foundation for Health and Rehabilitation
  • The Norwegian Women´s Public Health Association
  • University College of Southeast Norway
  • University of Agder
  • University of Tromso

Registry information

Official study title

"The Healthy Body Image" (HBI) Program: A Program to Promote a Positive Body Image. A School-based Randomized Controlled Trial

Important dates

Study start
2016
Primary completion
2018
Study completion
2018
First posted
Sep 15, 2016
Registry last updated
Mar 21, 2024

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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