The Succeed Body Image Programme is modelled directly after the Reflections Body Image Program, which originated in the United States.
History
Reflections is the first evidence-based peer-led eating disorder prevention programme. It was started at Trinity University when Dr Carloyn Becker and an undergraduate student conducted a small study investigating a cognitive-dissonance-based eating disorder prevention programme developed by Dr Eric Stice.
At the end of the study, which produced significant reductions in eating disorder risk factors, sorority participants unanimously suggested that the programme should be expanded and run for a second year. At the end of the second year, participants proposed that the programme be made a semi-mandatory part of Trinity University’s orientation for new sorority members so that all members could come together to battle the thin-ideal standard of female beauty. [1]
At this time, Dr Becker and her team decided to implement the programme using Peer Leaders as group facilitators – a first for any dissonance-based programme intervention. Once again, the programme was successful. Not only did the peer-led programme reduce eating disorder risk factors among participants, but students also praised the new peer-driven structure.
In 2005, the Delta Delta Delta Fraternity (Tri Delta), a large international sorority, began a series of discussions about implementing the programme at Tri Delta collegiate chapters nationwide and in 2008, Tri Delta officially launched Reflections, making it available to any sorority chapter or university group that wanted to implement it in North America.
The Succeed Foundation
In 2008, Karine Berthou, founder of The Succeed Foundation, learnt about the Reflections Body Image Program and embarked on two years of research aimed at laying the groundwork needed to replicate Tri Delta’s efforts in Europe, starting with the United Kingdom. One aim of the Succeed Foundation is to take the best of the Reflections Body Image Program and to make evidence-based body image improvement and eating disorder prevention programming available throughout Europe.
The Succeed Body Image Programme was launched in November 2010 and has been trialled and evaluated in the United Kingdom under the supervision of Dr Phillippa Diedrichs, a research psychologist at Centre of Appearance Research who specialises in body image and eating disorder prevention. These evaluations have provided evidence to suggest that dissonance-based eating disorders prevention translates to UK University settings.
Adaptations of The Succeed Body Image Programme
The Succeed Foundation, in collaboration with the Centre for Appearance Research at the University of the West of England, are currently pilot testing an adaptation of The Succeed Body Image Programme in secondary schools in the UK.
We are also conducted further research into male body image, with the view to create a version of The Succeed Body Image Programme that is suitable for men and/or adolescent boys. Dr Carolyn Becker is also working on an adaptation of the programme for adult women, post-university.
[1] Importantly, Reflections was not developed based on the assumption that sorority members are at increased risk for eating disorders. Rather, sororities provided a unique structure for disseminating the programme to large numbers of collegiate women.
Professor, Psychology
Dr. Carolyn Becker is a Professor of Psychology at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. Dr. Becker received her BA in psychology, sociology, and anthropology from Swarthmore College and later obtained her MS and PhD in clinical psychology at Rutgers University.
Dr. Becker is the lead author of Tri Delta’s award winning Reflections: Body…