Improving Body Image in Our Patients: A Key Component of Weight Management

Negative body image is a common comorbidity of living at a higher weight. Having a negative body impact impacts one's mental health and willingness to engage in health behaviours. Moreover, poor body image is an important predictor of weight preoccupation, dysregulated eating and weight gain. Research on the management of obesity with lifestyle/behavioural treatment suggests that the majority of patients will not lose a significant amount of weight. Thus promoting positive body image and body acceptance should be a key component of treatment. Attendees of the workshop will gain an understanding of the construct of body image, and its impact on mental health and dysregulated eating. Attendees will learn skills to assess and discuss the sensitive topic of body image and weight with their patients, and learn how to incorporate body image content into lifestyle/behavioural treatment programming.