Achieving body confidence for young children: Development and pilot study of a universal teacher-led body image and weight stigma program for early primary school children

ABSTRACT

Negative body image attitudes develop in early childhood and there is a need for school-based resources during the early school years, but no teacher-delivered curriculum-based resources exist to mitigate these attitudes in young children. Achieving Body Confidence for Young Children (ABC-4-YC), a universal body dissatisfaction and weight stigma prevention program, was developed and then delivered in a pilot study. Fifty-one 5- to 8-year-old children completed pre- and post-intervention interviews assessing body image attitudes, and seven teachers provided feedback. Significant improvement in body esteem and positive teacher feedback were found. The results provide preliminary support for ABC-4-YC to improve children’s body image attitudes, but extensive evaluation is needed.

Clinical Implications

• A teacher-led body image program for 5- to 8-year-old children was developed

• Pilot study results revealed positive improvements in children’s body esteem

• Teachers provided positive feedback on program feasibility

• The program may be a useful curriculum-based tool to enhance children’s body image

• Results provide support for a large controlled trial evaluating the program

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the support of the Victorian Department of Education and Training and thank Lilly Nguyen, Sara Tran, and Emily Ballard for their hard work in the participant recruitment and data collection.

Additional information

Funding

Funding for this research was provided by the Building Healthy Communities Research Focus Area at La Trobe University and a Victoria University College of Education Seeding Grant.