Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Virtual Reality in the Assessment and Treatment of Weight-Related Disorders

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Book cover Virtual Reality for Psychological and Neurocognitive Interventions

Abstract

Virtual Reality is currently used in the assessment and treatment of eating disorders in two different ways. First, VR cue exposure to critical stimuli (e.g., food or human bodies) allows both a reduction in the level of anxiety elicited by them and disruption of the reconsolidation of negative memories. Second, VR is used to facilitate the update of existing body representations. According to a recent theory, eating and weight disorders may be the outcome of a broader impairment in multisensory body integration that locks the individuals to an old memory of the body. In this view, even if the subject is able to lose weight after a diet, the multisensory impairment does not allow her/him to experience the new body and reduce the level of body dissatisfaction. VR allows a wrong representation of the body to be updated through two different strategies. In the first—“reference frame shifting” —the subject re-experiences in VR a negative situation related to the body (e.g., teasing) in both the first and third person (e.g., seeing and supporting her/his avatar in the VR world). In the second—“body swapping”—VR is used to induce the illusory feeling of ownership of a virtual body with a different shape and/or size.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 119.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Aimé, A., Cotton, K., & Bouchard, S. (2009). Reactivity to virtual reality immersions in a subclinical sample of women concerned with their weight and shape. Journal of Cybertherapy and Rehabilitation, 2, 111–120.

    Google Scholar 

  • Amianto, F., Ottone, L., Abbate Daga, G., & Fassino, S. (2015). Binge-eating disorder diagnosis and treatment: A recap in front of DSM-5. BMC Psychiatry, 15, 70–76.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baars, B. (1988). A cognitive theory of consciousness. New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berkman, N. D., Lohr, K. N., & Bulik, C. M. (2007). Outcomes of eating disorders. A systematic review of the literature. International Journal of Eating Disorder, 40, 293–309.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blechert, J., Ansorge, U., Beckmann, S., & Tuschen-Caffier, B. (2011). The undue influence of shape and weight on self-evaluation in anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and restrained eaters: a combined ERP and behavioral study. Psychological Medicine, 41(1), 185–194. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291710000395.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Butters, J. W., & Cash, T. F. (1987). Cognitive-behavioural treatment of women’s body-image dissatisfaction. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 55, 889–897.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Calogero, R. M. (2012). Objectification theory, self-objectification, and body image. In T. F. Cash (Ed.), Encyclopedia of body image and human appearance (Vol. 2, pp. 574–580). San Diego: Academic.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Calogero, R. M., Tantleff-Dunn, S., & Thompson, J. K. (2010). Self-Objectification in women: causes, consequences, and counteractions. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cash, T. F. (1996). The treatment of body image disturbances. In J. K. Thompson (Ed.), Body image, eating disorders and obesity (pp. 83–107). Washington, DC: APA – American Psychological Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cash, T. F., & Pruzinski, T. (Eds.). (2004). Body image: A handbook of theory, reasearch & clinical practice. New York: The Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cash, T. F., Fleming, E. C., Alindogan, J., Steadman, L., & Whitehead, A. (2002). Beyond body image as a trait: The development and validation of the Body Image States Scale. Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment & Prevention, 10, 103–113.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cesa, G. L., Manzoni, G. M., Bacchetta, M., Castelnuovo, G., Conti, S., Gaggioli, A., Mantovani, F., Molinari, E., Cardenas-Lopez, G., & Riva, G. (2013). Virtual reality for enhancing the cognitive behavioral treatment of obesity with binge eating disorder: Randomized controlled study with one-year follow-up. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 15(6), e113. https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.2441.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dakanalis, A., & Riva, G. (2013). Mass media, body image and eating disturbances: The underline mechanism through the lens of the objectification theory. In J. Latzer, J. Merrick, & D. Stein (Eds.), Body image: Gender differences, sociocultural influences and health implication (pp. 217–236). New York: Nova Science.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dakanalis, A., Di Mattei, V. E., Bagliacca, E. P., Prunas, A., Sarno, L., Riva, G., & Zanetti, M. A. (2012). Disordered eating behaviors among Italian men: Objectifying media and sexual orientation differences. Eating Disorders, 20(5), 356–367. https://doi.org/10.1080/10640266.2012.715514.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dakanalis, A., Clerici, M., Di Mattei, V. E., Caslini, M., Favagrossa, L., Bagliacca, E. P., et al. (2013a). Internalization of sociocultural standards of beauty and eating disordered behaviours: The role of body surveillance, shame, and social anxiety. Journal of Psychopatology, 20, 33–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dakanalis, A., Zanetti, M. A., Riva, G., & Clerici, M. (2013b). Psychosocial moderators of the relationship between body dissatisfaction and symptoms of eating disorders: A look at a sample of young Italian women. European Review of Applied Psychology-Revue/Europeenne De Psychologie Appliquee, 63(5), 323–334. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erap.2013.08.001.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dakanalis, A., Gaudio, S., Serino, S., Clerici, M., Carrà, G., & Riva, G. (2016). Body-image distortion in anorexia nervosa. Nature Reviews Disease Primers, 2, 16026. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrdp.2016.26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dakanalis, A., Colmegna, F., Riva, G., & Clerici, M. (2017). Validity and utility of the DSM-5 severity specifier for binge eating disorder. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 50(8), 917–923. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.22696.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dakanalis, A., Carrà, G., Calogero, R., Fida, R., Clerici, M., Zanetti, M. A., & Riva, G. (2015). The developmental effects of media-ideal internalization and self-objectification processes on adolescents’ negative body-feelings, dietary restraint, and binge eating. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 24(8), 997–1010.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dakanalis, A., Clerici, M., Bartoli, F., Caslini, M., Crocamo, C., Riva, G., & Carrà, G. (2017). Risk and maintenance factors for young women’s DSM-5 eating disorders. Archives of women’s mental health, 20(6), 721–731.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eldredge, K. L., Agras, W. S., Arnow, B., Telch, C. F., Bell, S., Castonguay, L., & Marnell, M. (1997). The effects of extending cognitive-behavioral therapy for binge eating disorder among initial treatment nonresponders. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 21(4), 347–352.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Etu, S. F., & Gray, J. J. (2010). A preliminary investigation of the relationship between induced rumination and state body image dissatisfaction and anxiety. Body Image, 7, 82–85.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferrer-Garcia, M., & Gutierrez-Maldonado, J. (2012). The use of virtual reality in the study, assessment, and treatment of body image in eating disorders and nonclinical samples: A review of the literature. Body Image, 9(1), 1–11. doi: S1740–1445(11)00140–9 [pii].

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferrer-Garcia, M., Gutiérrez-Maldonado, J., Caqueo-Urízar, A., & Moreno, E. (2009). The validity of virtual environments for eliciting emotional responses in patients with eating disorders and in controls. Behavior Modification, 3, 830–854.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferrer-Garcia, M., Gutierrez-Maldonado, J., & Pla, J. (2013a). Cue-elicited anxiety and craving for food using virtual reality scenarios. Studies of Health Technology and Informatics, 191, 105–109.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferrer-Garcia, M., Gutiérrez-Maldonado, J., & Riva, G. (2013b). Virtual reality based treatments in eating disorders and obesity: A review. Journal of Contemporary Psychology, 43(4), 207–221. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10879-013-9240-1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferrer-Garcia, M., Gutiérrez-Maldonado, J., Pla-Sanjuanelo, J., Vilalta-Abella, F., Andreu-Gracia, A., Dakanalis, A., Fernandez-Aranda, F., Fusté-Escolano, A., Ribas-Sabaté, J., Riva, G., Saldaña, C., & Sánchez, I. (2015a). External eating as a predictor of cue-reactivity to food-related virtual environments. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, 13(219), 117–122.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferrer-Garcia, M., Gutiérrez-Maldonado, J., Treasure, J., & Vilalta-Abella, F. (2015b). Craving for food in virtual reality scenarios in non-clinical sample: Analysis of its relationship with body mass index and eating disorder symptoms. European Eating Disorders Review, 23(5), 371–378.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferrer-Garcia, M., Gutiérrez-Maldonado, J., Pla-Sanjuanelo, J., Vilalta-Abella, F., Riva, G., Clerici, M., et al. (2017a). A randomised controlled comparison of second-level treatment approaches for treatment-resistant adults with bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder: assessing the benefits of virtual reality cue exposure therapy. European Eating Disorders Review., 25(6), 479–490. https://doi.org/10.1002/erv.2538. Epub ahead of print.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferrer-Garcia, M., Pla-Sanjuanelo, J., Dakanalis, A., Vilalta-Abella, F., Riva, G., Fernández-Aranda, F., et al. (2017b). Eating behavior style predicts craving and anxiety experienced in food-related virtual environments by patients with eating disorders and healthy controls. Appetite, 117, 284–293.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fett, A. K., Lattimore, P., Roefs, A., Geschwind, N., & Jansen, A. (2009). Food cue exposure and body image satisfaction: The moderating role of BMI and dietary restraint. Body Image, 6, 14–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fitzsimmons, E. E., & Bardone-Cone, A. M. (2011). Downward spirals of body surveillance and weight/shape concern among African American and Caucasian college women. Body Image, 8(3), 216–223. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.Bodyim.2011.04.003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fredrickson, B. L., & Roberts, T. (1997). Objectification theory: Toward understanding women’s lived experiences and mental health risks. Psychology of women quarterly, 21, 173–206.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gaudio, S., & Riva, G. (2013). Body image disturbances in Anorexia: The link between functional connectivity alterations and reference frames. Biological Psychiatry, 73(9), e25–e26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2012.08.028.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goldfein, J. A., Walsh, B. T., & Midlarsky, E. (2000). Influence of shape and weight on self-evaluation in bulimia nervosa. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 27(4), 435–445. https://doi.org/10.1002/(Sici)1098-108x(200005)27:4<435::Aid-Eat8>3.0.Co;2-2.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gorini, A., Griez, E., Petrova, A., & Riva, G. (2010). Assessment of emotional responses produced to real food, virtual food and photographs of food in patients affected by eating disorders. Annals of General Psychiatry, 9, 30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guitard, T., Aimé, M., Bouchard, S., Loranger, C., & Cotton, K. (2011). Body dissatisfaction: eliciting emotions by social comparison in a virtual bar. Journal of CyberTherapy and Rehabilitation, 4(2), 295–297.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gutiérrez-Maldonado, J., Ferrer-Garcia, M., Caqueo-Urízar, A., & Letosa-Porta, A. (2006). Assessment of emotional reactivity produced by exposure to virtual environments in patients with eating disorders. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 9(5), 507–513.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gutiérrez-Maldonado, J., Ferrer-Garcia, M., Caqueo-Urízar, A., & Moreno, E. (2010). Body image in eating disorders: The influence of exposure to virtual environments. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 13, 521–531.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gutiérrez-Maldonado, J., Ferrer-Garcia, M., & Riva, G. (2013). VR cue-exposure treatment for bulimia nervosa. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, 191, 21–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gutiérrez-Maldonado, J., Pla-Sanjuanelo, J., & Ferrer-Garcia, M. (2016a). Cue-exposure software for the treatment of bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. Psicothema, 28(4), 363–369.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gutiérrez-Maldonado, J., Wiederhold, B. K., & Riva, G. (2016b). Future directions: How virtual reality can further improve the assessment and treatment of eating disorders and obesity. Cyberpsychology, Behavior & Social Networking, 19(2), 148–153.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haines, J., & Neumark-Sztainer, D. (2006). Prevention of obesity and eating disorders: A consideration of shared risk factors. Health Education Research, 21(6), 770–782.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Halmi. (2013). Perplexities of treatment resistance in eating disorders. BCM Psychiatry, 13, 292. http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-244X/13/292.

    Google Scholar 

  • Head, H. (1926). Aphasia and kindred disorders of speech. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jansen, A. (1998). A learning model of binge eating: Cue reactivity and cue exposure. Behaviour Reasearch and Therapy, 36, 257–272.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jansen, A., Van Den Hout, M. A., De Loof, C., Zandbergen, J., & Griez, E. (1989). A case of bulimia successfully treated by cue exposure. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 20(4), 327–332. https://doi.org/10.1016/0005-7916(89)90064-5.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Johnston, J. M. (2004). Eating disorders and childhood obesity: Who are the real gluttons? MAJ, 171(12), 1459–1460. https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.1041111.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keizer, A., van Elburg, A., Helms, R., & Dijkerman, H. C. (2016). A virtual reality full body illusion improves body image disturbance in Anorexia Nervosa. PLoS One, 11(10), e0163921. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0163921.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, D. S. (2009). Body image dissatisfaction as an important contributor to suicidal ideation in Korean adolescents: Gender difference and mediation of parent and peer relationships. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 66(4), 297–303. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2008.08.005.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koskina, A., Campbell, I. C., & Schmidt, U. (2013). Exposure therapy in eating disorders revisited. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 37(2), 193–208. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2012.11.010.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kostanski, M., & Gullone, E. (1999). Dieting and body image in the child’s world: Conceptualization and behavior. The Journal of Genetic Psychology, 160(4), 488–499. https://doi.org/10.1080/00221329909595561.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lampard, A. M., & Sharbanee, J. M. (2015). The cognitive-behavioural theory and treatment of bulimia nervosa: An examination of treatment mechanisms and future directions. Australian Psychologist, 50, 6–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lattimore, P., & Hutchinson, R. (2010). Perceived calorie intake and state body-image satisfaction in women attempting weight loss: A preliminary investigation. Body Image, 7, 15–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ledoux, T., Nguyen, A. S., Bakos-Block, C., & Bordnick, P. (2013). Using virtual reality to study food cravings. Appetite, 71, 396–402. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2013.09.006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, S. (1995). Weight phobia versus fat phobia in anorexia nervosa. Transcultural Psychiatric Research Review, 32, 439–440.

    Google Scholar 

  • Makinen, M., Puukko-Viertomies, L. R., Lindberg, N., Siimes, M. A., & Aalberg, V. (2012). Body dissatisfaction and body mass in girls and boys transitioning from early to mid-adolescence: Additional role of self-esteem and eating habits. BMC psychiatry, 12, 35. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-244X-12-35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manzoni, G. M., Cesa, G. L., Bacchetta, M., Castelnuovo, G., Conti, S., Gaggioli, A., et al. (2016). Virtual reality-enhanced cognitive-behavioral therapy for morbid obesity: A randomized controlled study with 1 year follow-up. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 19(2), 134–140. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2015.0208.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marco, J. H., Perpina, C., & Botella, C. (2013). Effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy supported by virtual reality in the treatment of body image in eating disorders: One-year follow-up. Psychiatry Research, 209(3), 619–625. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2013.02.023.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martínez-Mallén, E., Castro-Fornieles, J., Lázaro, L., Moreno, E., Morer, A., Font, E., et al. (2007). Cue exposure in the treatment of resistant adolescent bulimia nervosa. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 40(7), 596–601. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.20423.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Menzel, J. E., Schaefer, L. M., Burke, N. L., Mayhew, L. L., Brannick, M. T., & Thompson, J. K. (2010). Appearance-related teasing, body dissatisfaction, and disordered eating: A meta-analysis. Body Image, 7(4), 261–270. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2010.05.004.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Monro, F. J., & Huon, G. F. (2006). Media-portrayed idealized images, self-objectification, and eating behavior. Eating Behaviors, 7(4), 375–383. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eatbeh.2005.12.003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Myers, P. N., & Biocca, F. A. (1992). The elastic body image: The effect of television advertisement and programming on body image distortions in young women. Journal of Communication, 42, 108–133.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • National Institute for Clinical Excellence. (2004). Eating disorders: Core interventions in the treatment and management of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, related eating disorders (NICE Clinical Guideline No. 9). London, England: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neumark-Sztainer, D. (2009). Preventing obesity and eating disorders in adolescents: What can health care providers do. Journal of Adolescent Health, 44(3), 206–213. doi: S1054-139X(08)00663–0 [pii]10.1016/j.jadohealth.2008.11.005.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Neumark-Sztainer, D., Wall, M., Guo, J., Story, M., Haines, J., & Eisenberg, M. (2006). Obesity, disordered eating, and eating disorders in a longitudinal study of adolescents: How do dieters fare 5 years later. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 106(4), 559–568. S0002–8223(06)00004–6 [pii]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jada.2006.01.003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ogden, C. L., Carroll, M. D., & Flegal, K. M. (2008). High body mass index for age among US children and adolescents, 2003–2006. Jama-Journal of the American Medical Association, 299(20), 2401–2405. https://doi.org/10.1001/Jama.299.20.2401.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pérez, B., Gutiérrez-Maldonado, J., & Ferrer-Garcia, M. (2004). Cuestionario de Depresión Barcelona: evaluación del curso de la depresión. In VII European conference on psychological assessment. Spain., April: Málaga.

    Google Scholar 

  • Perpiñá, C., Botella, C., Baños, R. M., Marco, H., Alcañiz, M., & Quero, S. (1999). Body image and virtual reality in eating disorders: Is exposure to virtual reality more effective than the classical body image treatment? CyberPsychology and Behavior, 2, 149–159.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perpiñá, C., Botella, C., & Baños, R. M. (2000). Imagen corporal en los trastornos alimentarios. evaluación y tratamiento mediante realidad virtual. Valencia: Promolibro.

    Google Scholar 

  • Perpiñá, C., Baños, R., Botella, C., & Marco, J. H. (2001). Virtual reality as a therapy tool: A case study on body image alteration disorders. Revista Argentina de Clínica Psicológica, 10, 227–241.

    Google Scholar 

  • Perpiñá, C., Marco, J. H., Botella, C., & Baños, R. (2004). Tratamiento de la imagen corporal en los trastornos alimentarios mediante tratamiento cognitivo-comportamental apoyado con realidad virtual: resultados al año de seguimiento. Psicología Conductual: Revista Internacional de Psicología Clínica y de la Salud, 12, 519–537.

    Google Scholar 

  • Perpiñá, C., Roncero, M., Fernández-Aranda, F., Jiménez-Murcia, S., Forcano, L., & Sánchez, I. (2013). Clinical validation of a virtual environment for normalizing eating patterns in eating disorders. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 54(6), 680–686.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pinto-Gouveia, J., & Matos, M. (2011). Can shame memories become a key to identity? The centrality of shame memories predicts psychopathology. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 25, 281–290. https://doi.org/10.1002/acp.1689.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pla-Sanjuanelo, J., Ferrer-Garcia, M., Gutierrez-Maldonado, J., Riva, G., Andreu-Gracia, A., Dakanalis, A., et al. (2015). Identifying specific cues and contexts related to bingeing behavior for the development of effective virtual environments. Appetite, 87, 81–89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2014.12.098.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pla-Sanjuanelo, J., Ferrer-Garcia, M., Vilalta-Abella, F., Gutierrez-Maldonado, J., Andreu-Gracia, A., Dakanalis, A., Escandón-Nagel, N., Fernandez-Aranda, F., Gomez-Tricio, O., Ribas-Sabaté, J., Riva, G., Sánchez, T., & Tena, V. (2016). Using virtual reality for cue-exposure therapy in a case of bulimia nervosa. In Annual review of CyberTherapy and telemedicine: A decade of virtual reality (Vol. 14, pp. 155–160).

    Google Scholar 

  • Pla-Sanjuanelo, J., Ferrer-Garcia, M., Vilalta-Abella, F., Riva, G., Dakanalis, A., Ribas-Sabaté, J., et al. (2017). Testing virtual reality-based cue-exposure software: Which cue-elicited responses best discriminate between patients with eating disorders and healthy controls? Eating and Weight Disorders-Studies on Anorexia Bulimia and Obesity. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-017-0419-4. Epub ahead of print.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riva, G. (1998a). Virtual reality in psychological assessment: The body image virtual reality scale. CyberPsychology and Behavior, 1, 37–44.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riva, G. (1998b). Modifications of body-image induced by virtual reality. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 86, 163–170.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Riva, G. (1998c). Virtual environment for body image modification: Virtual reality system for treatment of body image disturbances. Computers in Human Behavior, 14, 477–490.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riva, G. (2003). Virtual environments in clinical psychology. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice and Training, 40, 68–76.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riva, G. (2005). Virtual reality in psychotherapy: Review. Cyberpsychology & Behavior, 8(3), 220–230. discussion 231-240.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riva, G. (2007). Virtual Body, real pain: The allocentric lock hypothesis. In M. Zampini & F. Pavani (Eds.), Body representation workshop (pp. online: http://www.cimec.unitn.it/events/brw/Poster/107_abs_GIUSEPPE_RIVA.pdf). Rovereto: Università degli Studi di Trento.

  • Riva, G. (2011). The key to unlocking the virtual body: Virtual reality in the treatment of obesity and eating disorders. Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology, 5(2), 283–292.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riva, G. (2012). Neuroscience and eating disorders: The allocentric lock hypothesis. Medical Hypotheses, 78, 254–257. S0306-9877(11)00566-4 [pii] 10.1016/j.mehy.2011.10.039.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riva, G. (2014). Out of my real body: Cognitive neuroscience meets eating disorders. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 8, 236. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2014.00236.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riva, G. (2017). Letter to the editor: Virtual reality in the treatment of eating and weight disorders. Psychological Medicine, 47(14), 2567–2568. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291717001441.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Riva, G. (2018). The neuroscience of body memory: From the self through the space to the others. Cortex, 104, 241–260.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riva, G., & Gaudio, S. (2012). Allocentric lock in anorexia nervosa: New evidences from neuroimaging studies. Medical Hypotheses, 79(1), 113–117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mehy.2012.03.036.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riva, G., & Gaudio, S. (2018). Locked to a wrong body: eating disorders as the outcome of a primary disturbance in multisensory body integration. Consciousness and cognition, 59, 57–59.

    Google Scholar 

  • Riva, G., & Melis. (1997a). Virtual reality for the treatment of body image disturbances. In G. Riva (Ed.), Virtual reality in neuro-psycho-physiology: Cognitive, clinical and methodological issues in the assessment and rehabilitation (pp. 95–111). Amsterdam: IOS Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Riva, G., & Melis. (1997b). Virtual reality for the treatment of body image disturbances. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, 44, 95–111.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Riva, G., Melis, L., & Bolzoni, M. (1997). Treating body image disturbances. Communications of the ACM, 40, 69–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riva, G., Bacchetta, M., Baruffi, M., Rinaldi, S., & Molinari, E. (1998a). Experiential cognitive therapy: A VR based approach for the assessment and treatment of eating disorders. In G. Riva, B. K. Wiederhold, et al. (Eds.), Virtual environments in clinical psychology and neuroscience: Method and techniques in advanced patient-therapist interaction (pp. 120–135). Amsterdam: IOS Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Riva, G., Bacchetta, M., Baruffi, M., Rinaldi, S., & Molinari, E. (1998b). Experiential cognitive therapy in anorexia nervosa. Eating and Weight Disorders, 3, 141–150.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Riva, G., Bacchetta, M., Baruffi, M., Defrance, C., Gatti, F., Galimberti, C., et al. (1999). VREPAR 2: VR in eating disorders. Cyberpsychology & Behavior, 2, 77–79.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Riva, G., Bacchetta, M., Baruffi, M., Cirillo, G., & Molinari, E. (2000a). Virtual reality environment for body image modification: A multidimensional therapy for the treatment of body image in obesity and related pathologies. Cyberpsychology & Behavior, 3, 421–431.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riva, G., Bacchetta, M., Baruffi, M., Rinaldi, S., Vincelli, F., & Molinari, E. (2000b). Realtà virtual e trattamento dei disturbi del comportamento alimentare. Psicoterapia Cognitiva e Comportamentale, 6, 173–184.

    Google Scholar 

  • Riva, G., Marchi, S., & Molinari, E. (2000c). Body image and eating restraint: A structural modeling analysis. Eating and Weight Disorders, 5(1), 38–42.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Riva, G., Bachetta, M., Baruffi, M., & Molinari, E. (2001). Virtual reality-based multidimensional therapy for the treatment of body image disturbances in obesity: A controlled study. Cyberpsychology & Behavior, 4, 511–526.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Riva, G., Bachetta, M., Baruffi, M., & Molinari, E. (2002). Virtual-reality-based multidimensional therapy for the treatment of body image disturbances in binge eating disorders: A preliminary controlled study. IEEE Transactions on Information Technology in Biomedicine, 6, 224–234.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riva, G., Bacchetta, M., Cesa, G., Conti, S., & Molinari, E. (2003). Six-month follow-up of in-patient experiential-cognitive therapy for binge eating disorders. Cyberpsychology & Behavior, 6, 251–258.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Riva, G., Bacchetta, M., Cesa, G., Conti, S., Castelnuovo, G., Mantovani, F., & Molinari, E. (2006). Is severe obesity a form of addiction? Rationale, clinical approach, and controlled clinical trial. CyberPsychology and Behavior, 9, 457–479.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riva, G., Gaggioli, A., Villani, D., Preziosa, A., Morganti, F., Corsi, R., Faletti, G., & Vezzadini, L. (2007). NeuroVR: An open source virtual reality platform for clinical psychology and behavioral neurosciences. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, 125, 394–399.

    Google Scholar 

  • Riva, G., Carelli, L., Gaggioli, A., Gorini, A., Vigna, C., Corsi, R., Faletti, G., & Vezzadini, L. (2009). NeuroVR 1.5 – A free virtual reality platform for the assessment and treatment in clinical psychology and neuroscience. Studies of Health Technology and Informatics, 142, 268–270.

    Google Scholar 

  • Riva, G., Gaggioli, A., Grassi, A., Raspelli, S., Cipresso, P., Pallavicini, F., Vigna, C., Gagliati, A., Gasco, S., & Donvito, G. (2011). NeuroVR 2 – A free virtual reality platform for the assessment and treatment in behavioral health care. Studies of Health Technology and Informatics, 163, 493–495.

    Google Scholar 

  • Riva, G., Castelnuovo, G., Cesa, G., Gaggioli, A., Mantovani, F., & Molinari, E. (2012). Virtual reality for enhancing the cognitive behavioral treatment of obesity: A controlled study with one-year follow-up. Paper presented at the Medicine 2.0’12 Boston.

    Google Scholar 

  • Riva, G., Gaudio, S., & Dakanalis, A. (2015). The neuropsychology of self objectification. European Psychologist, 20(1), 34–43. https://doi.org/10.1027/1016-9040/a000190.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riva, G., Baños, R. M., Botella, C., Mantovani, F., & Gaggioli, A. (2016a). Transforming experience: The potential of augmented reality and virtual reality for enhancing personal and clinical change. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 7(164). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2016.00164.

  • Riva, G., Gutierrez-Maldonado, J., & Wiederhold, B. K. (2016b). Virtual worlds versus real body: Virtual reality meets eating and weight disorders. Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking, 19(2), 63–66. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2016.29025.gri.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rodin, J., & Larson, L. (1992). Social factors and the ideal body shape. In K. D. Brownell & J. Rodin (Eds.), Eating, body weight, and performance in athletes: Disorders of modern society (pp. 146–158). Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodin, J., Silberstein, L., & Striegel-Moore, R. (1984). Women and weight: A normative discontent. Nebraska Symposium on Motivation, 32, 267–307.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rorty, M., Yager, J., & Rossotto, E. (1993). Why and how do women recover from bulimia nervosa? The subjective appraisals of forty women recovered for a year or more. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 14, 249–260.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rosen, J. C. (1997). Cognitive-behavioural body image therapy. In D. M. Garner & P. E. Garfinkel (Eds.), Handbook of treatment for eating disorders (pp. 188–201). New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosen, J. C., & Ramírez, E. (1998). A comparison of eating disorders and body dysmorphic disorder on body image and psychological adjustment. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 44, 441–449.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rudiger, J. A., Cash, T. A., Roehrig, M., & Thompson, J. K. (2007). Day-to-day body states: Prospective predictors of intra-individual level of variability. Body Image, 4, 1–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ruiz, J. R., Andrade, A. D., Anam, R., Aguiar, R., Sun, H., & Roos, B. A. (2012). Using anthropomorphic avatars resembling sedentary older individuals as models to enhance self-efficacy and adherence to physical activity: Psychophysiological correlates. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, 173, 405–411.

    Google Scholar 

  • Salorio del Moral, P., Gómez Sánchez, R., Morales Moreno, I., Torres Ortuño, A., Díaz Cuenca, A., & Alegría Capel, A. (2004). La realidad virtual, una nueva herramienta terapéutica. Tratamiento de la imagen corporal en los trastornos alimentarios. Revista Electrónica Semestral de Enfermería, 5, 1–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schienle, A., Schäfer, A., Hermann, A., & Vaitl, D. (2009). Binge-eating disorders: Reward sensivity and brain activation to images of food. Biological Psychiatry, 65, 654–661.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Serino, S., Pedroli, E., Keizer, A., Triberti, S., Dakanalis, A., Pallavicini, F., et al. (2016a). Virtual reality body swapping: A tool for modifying the Allocentric memory of the body. Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking, 19(2), 127–133. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2015.0229.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Serino, S., Scarpina, F., Keizer, A., Pedroli, E., Dakanalis, A., Castelnuovo, G., et al. (2016b). A novel technique for improving bodily experience in a non-operable super-super obesity case. Frontiers in Psychology, 7, 837. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00837.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, G. K., Kogan, M. D., Van Dyck, P. C., & Siahpush, M. (2008). Racial/ethnic, socioeconomic, and behavioral determinants of childhood and adolescent obesity in the United States: Analysing independent and joint associations. Annals of Epidemiology, 18(9), 682–695. doi: S1047-2797(08)00112-9 [pii].

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Slade, P. D., & Brodie, D. (1994). Body image distortion and eating disorder: A reconceptualitation based on recent literature. European Eating Disorders Review, 2(1), 32–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smeets, M. A. M. (1997). The rise and fall of body size estimation research in anorexia nervosa: A review and reconceptualization. European Eating Disorders Review, 5, 75–95.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smolak, L. (2012). Body image development – Girl children. In T. Cash (Ed.), Encyclopedia of body image and human appearance (pp. 212–218). Oxford: Academic.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Spielberger, C. D., Gorsuch, R. L., & Lushene, R. E. (1970). Handbook of STAI. Palo Alto: Consulting Psychologist Press. [Spanish adaptation: Seisdedos, N. (1988). Barcelona: Ediciones TEA.].

    Google Scholar 

  • Stice, E., Presnell, K., Shaw, H., & Rohde, P. (2005). Psychological and behavioral risk factors for obesity onset in adolescent girls: A prospective study. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 73(2), 195–202.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stice, E., Davis, K., Miller, N. P., & Marti, C. N. (2008). Fasting increases risk for onset of binge eating and bulimic pathology: A 5-year prospective study. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 117(4), 941–946. doi: 2008-16252-019 [pii]10.1037/a0013644.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sweetingham, R., & Waller, G. (2008). Childhood experiences of being bullied and teased in the eating disorders. European Eating Disorders Review, 16(5), 401–407.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, J. K. (Ed.). (1996). Body image, eating disorders, and obesity: An integrative guide for assessment and treatment. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, J. K., Heinberg, L. J., Altabe, M., & Tantleff-Dunn, S. (1999). The scope of body image disturbance: The big picture. In J. K. Thompson, L. J. Heinberg, M. Altabe, & S. Tantleff-Dunn (Eds.), Exacting beauty: Theory, assessment, and treatment of body image disturbance (pp. 19–50). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Toro, J., Cervera, M., Feliu, M. H., Garriga, N., Jou, M., Martinez, E., & Toro, E. (2003). Cue exposure in the treatment of resistant bulimia nervosa. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 34, 1–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van den Berg, P., Paxton, S. J., Keery, H., Wall, M., Guo, J., & Neumark-Sztainer, D. (2007). Body dissatisfaction and body comparison with media images in males and females. Body Image, 4(3), 257–268. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2007.04.003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Strien, T., Frijter, J. E. R., Bergers, G. P. A., & Defares, P. B. (1986). The Dutch eating behavior questionnaire (DEBQ) for assessment of restrained, emotional, and external eating behavior. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 5, 295–315.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Strien, T., Herman, C. P., & Verheijden, M. W. (2009). Eating style, overeating, and overweight in a representative Dutch sample. Does external eating play a role? Appetite, 52, 380–387. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2008.11.010.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vandereycken, W. (1990). The relevance of body-image disturbances for the treatment of bulimia. In M. M. Fichter (Ed.), Bulimia nervosa. Basic research, diagnosis and treatment (pp. 85–91). Chichester: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vandereycken, W., Probst, M., & Meermann, R. (1988). An experimental video-confrontation procedure as a therapeutic technique and a research tool in the treatment of eating disorders. In K. M. Pirke, W. Vandereycken, & D. Ploog (Eds.), The psychobiology of bulimia nervosa (pp. 172–178). Berlin: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Wiederhold, B. K., Riva, G., & Gutiérrez-Maldonado, J. (2016). Virtual reality in the assessment and treatment of weight-related disorders. Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking, 19(2), 67–73. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2016.0012.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, G. T., Grilo, C. M., & Vitousek, K. M. (2007). Psychological treatment of eating disorders. American Psychologist, 62(3), 199–216.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, G. T., Wilfley, D. E., Agras, W. S., & Bryson, S. W. (2010). Psychological treatments of binge eating disorder. Archives of General Psychiatry, 67, 94–101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wooley, S. C., & Wooley, O. W. (1985). Intensive out-patient and residential treatment for bulimia. In D. M. Garner & P. E. Garfinkel (Eds.), Handbook of psychotherapy for anorexia and bulimia (pp. 18–24). New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy

    Giuseppe Riva

  2. Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy

    Giuseppe Riva

  3. University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    José Gutiérrez-Maldonado & Marta Ferrer-García

  4. University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy

    Antonios Dakanalis

  5. University of Milan-Bicocca, Milan, Italy

    Antonios Dakanalis

Authors
  1. Giuseppe Riva
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. José Gutiérrez-Maldonado
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Antonios Dakanalis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Marta Ferrer-García
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Giuseppe Riva .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Creative Technologies, University of Southern California, Marina del Rey, CA, USA

    Albert “Skip” Rizzo

  2. Université du Québec en Outaouais, Gatineau, QC, Canada

    Stéphane Bouchard

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Riva, G., Gutiérrez-Maldonado, J., Dakanalis, A., Ferrer-García, M. (2019). Virtual Reality in the Assessment and Treatment of Weight-Related Disorders. In: Rizzo, A.“., Bouchard, S. (eds) Virtual Reality for Psychological and Neurocognitive Interventions. Virtual Reality Technologies for Health and Clinical Applications. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-9482-3_7

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation