Short-term effects of a multidisciplinary inpatient intensive rehabilitation treatment on body image in anorexia nervosa

BACKGROUND: Positive changes in weight gain and eating pathology were reported after inpatient treatments for anorexia nervosa (AN). However, changes in the physical body do not always mirror changes in the imagined body. Here, the effect of a treatment focused on body image (BI) was described. METHODS: This retrospective observational study had a quasi-experimental pre-post design without the control group. During the treatment, participants (N = 72) undertake a variety of activities focused on BI. The main outcome was tested through the Body Uneasiness Test. RESULTS: At the end of the treatment, BI uneasiness decreased with a significant increase in weight gain. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the positive short-term effect of a multidisciplinary inpatient intensive rehabilitation treatment on BI in AN. We encourage to design of psychological treatments focusing on the cognitive and emotional bodily representation (i.e. the body in the mind) to increase physical well-being. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40337-023-00906-9.