Comparing the Effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Mindfulness-Based Interventions on Body Image in Overweight Adolescent Girls

Abstract

Objective: The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) on body image among overweight adolescent girls.

Methods: This quasi-experimental study employed a pretest–posttest design. The statistical population consisted of all overweight female students aged 13–15 years who were enrolled in grades 7–9 of lower secondary schools in Shahroud, Iran, during the 2025–2026 academic year. The mean ages of participants in the CBT, MBI, and control groups were 13.99, 14.07, and 14.15 years, respectively. Participants were selected using purposive sampling based on the predefined inclusion criteria. A total of 39 participants were recruited, including 13 in the CBT group, 12 in the MBI group, and 14 in the control group. Data were collected using a demographic information form, the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PAQ-A), and the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ). Participants in the intervention groups received White’s (2001) group cognitive behavioral therapy protocol and the mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) protocol developed by Kabat-Zinn et al. (1992), respectively, over eight sessions, with two 60–90-minute sessions per week. Data were analyzed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and SPSS version 27.

Results: After controlling for pretest scores, significant pretest-to-posttest differences were observed in the experimental groups in terms of body image, satisfaction with different body parts, and attitudes toward weight (p < 0.05). However, no statistically significant differences were found between the two experimental groups for any of the studied variables (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: Both CBT and MBI were associated with significant improvements in the studied dimensions of body image among overweight adolescent girls. However, neither intervention demonstrated a statistically significant advantage over the other. These findings suggest that both approaches may be considered as potential psychological interventions for addressing body image concerns in overweight adolescent girls. Mental health professionals may select either protocol, or consider an integrated approach, according to clinical expertise, available resources, and client preferences.