Exploring the Potential of Virtual Reality in Eating Disorder Treatment
Abstract Introduction: Eating disorders (EDs) are complex mental health conditions with significant treatment barriers, including stigma and limited access to care. Virtual reality (VR) offers a novel approach by providing immersive, controlled environments for addressing body image concerns an...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń
2025-03-01
|
| Series: | Quality in Sport |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/59141 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850278675836043264 |
|---|---|
| author | Weronika Barbara Grywińska Aleksandra Okońska Julia Kozakiewicz Kamil Kościelecki Agnieszka Kalisz Iwona Skorulska Klaudia Mączewska Patrycja Długozima Paulina Grzeszczuk Aleksandra Głowacka |
| author_facet | Weronika Barbara Grywińska Aleksandra Okońska Julia Kozakiewicz Kamil Kościelecki Agnieszka Kalisz Iwona Skorulska Klaudia Mączewska Patrycja Długozima Paulina Grzeszczuk Aleksandra Głowacka |
| author_sort | Weronika Barbara Grywińska |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Abstract
Introduction: Eating disorders (EDs) are complex mental health conditions with significant treatment barriers, including stigma and limited access to care. Virtual reality (VR) offers a novel approach by providing immersive, controlled environments for addressing body image concerns and maladaptive eating behaviours. This review explores VR’s potential in ED treatment based on recent research.
Methods: A literature review was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science, focusing on studies from the past five years that examined VR as a treatment tool. Clinical outcomes, intervention types, and methodologies were analysed.
Summary of Findings: VR has shown promise in reducing body dissatisfaction, fear of weight gain, and binge eating behaviours. Studies using personalized avatars, attentional bias training, and exposure therapy demonstrated improvements in body image perception, anxiety reduction, and coping skills. VR-enhanced cognitive behavioural therapy (VR-CBT) was particularly effective for bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder.
Conclusions: VR is an effective, accessible tool for ED treatment, offering safe and engaging therapeutic experiences. While promising, further research is needed to refine treatment protocols and enhance personalization. As technology advances, VR has the potential to bridge treatment gaps and improve ED recovery outcomes.
|
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9d4b33c4bce84d018a09eafca0f50ed4 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2450-3118 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Quality in Sport |
| spelling | doaj-art-9d4b33c4bce84d018a09eafca0f50ed42025-08-20T01:49:23ZengNicolaus Copernicus University in ToruńQuality in Sport2450-31182025-03-013910.12775/QS.2025.39.59141Exploring the Potential of Virtual Reality in Eating Disorder TreatmentWeronika Barbara Grywińska0https://orcid.org/0009-0004-8609-9626Aleksandra Okońska 1https://orcid.org/0009-0001-9036-7150Julia Kozakiewicz 2https://orcid.org/0009-0002-5435-3007Kamil Kościelecki 3https://orcid.org/0009-0001-5516-7540Agnieszka Kalisz4https://orcid.org/0009-0001-2996-7691Iwona Skorulska 5https://orcid.org/0009-0006-6326-2464Klaudia Mączewska6https://orcid.org/0009-0007-3426-6666Patrycja Długozima 7https://orcid.org/0009-0001-4513-2256Paulina Grzeszczuk 8https://orcid.org/0009-0003-3522-1567Aleksandra Głowacka 9https://orcid.org/0009-0000-9389-7731Independent Public Complex of Health Care Facilities in Wyszkow ul. KEN 1, 07-200 WyszkówUniversity Clinical Hospital in Bialystok ul. M. C. Skłodowskiej 24a, 15-276 BiałystokUniversity Clinical Hospital in Bialystok ul. M. C. Skłodowskiej 24a, 15-276 BiałystokVoivodeship Integrated Hospital named after Jedrzej Sniadecki in Bialystok, ul. M. C. Skłodowskiej 26, 15-278 BiałystokUniversity Clinical Hospital in Bialystok ul. M. C. Skłodowskiej 24a, 15-276 BiałystokUniversity Clinical Hospital in Bialystok ul. M. C. Skłodowskiej 24a, 15-276 BiałystokUniversity Clinical Hospital in Bialystok ul. M. C. Skłodowskiej 24a, 15-276 BiałystokUniversity Clinical Hospital in Bialystok ul. M. C. Skłodowskiej 24a, 15-276 BiałystokUniversity Clinical Hospital in Bialystok ul. M. C. Skłodowskiej 24a, 15-276 BiałystokIndependent Public Complex of Health Care Facilities in Ostrow Mazowiecka ul. S. Dubois 68, 07-300 Ostrów Mazowiecka Abstract Introduction: Eating disorders (EDs) are complex mental health conditions with significant treatment barriers, including stigma and limited access to care. Virtual reality (VR) offers a novel approach by providing immersive, controlled environments for addressing body image concerns and maladaptive eating behaviours. This review explores VR’s potential in ED treatment based on recent research. Methods: A literature review was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science, focusing on studies from the past five years that examined VR as a treatment tool. Clinical outcomes, intervention types, and methodologies were analysed. Summary of Findings: VR has shown promise in reducing body dissatisfaction, fear of weight gain, and binge eating behaviours. Studies using personalized avatars, attentional bias training, and exposure therapy demonstrated improvements in body image perception, anxiety reduction, and coping skills. VR-enhanced cognitive behavioural therapy (VR-CBT) was particularly effective for bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. Conclusions: VR is an effective, accessible tool for ED treatment, offering safe and engaging therapeutic experiences. While promising, further research is needed to refine treatment protocols and enhance personalization. As technology advances, VR has the potential to bridge treatment gaps and improve ED recovery outcomes. https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/59141Eating DisordersVirtual RealityBody ImageVirtual Exposure Therapy |
| spellingShingle | Weronika Barbara Grywińska Aleksandra Okońska Julia Kozakiewicz Kamil Kościelecki Agnieszka Kalisz Iwona Skorulska Klaudia Mączewska Patrycja Długozima Paulina Grzeszczuk Aleksandra Głowacka Exploring the Potential of Virtual Reality in Eating Disorder Treatment Quality in Sport Eating Disorders Virtual Reality Body Image Virtual Exposure Therapy |
| title | Exploring the Potential of Virtual Reality in Eating Disorder Treatment |
| title_full | Exploring the Potential of Virtual Reality in Eating Disorder Treatment |
| title_fullStr | Exploring the Potential of Virtual Reality in Eating Disorder Treatment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring the Potential of Virtual Reality in Eating Disorder Treatment |
| title_short | Exploring the Potential of Virtual Reality in Eating Disorder Treatment |
| title_sort | exploring the potential of virtual reality in eating disorder treatment |
| topic | Eating Disorders Virtual Reality Body Image Virtual Exposure Therapy |
| url | https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/59141 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT weronikabarbaragrywinska exploringthepotentialofvirtualrealityineatingdisordertreatment AT aleksandraokonska exploringthepotentialofvirtualrealityineatingdisordertreatment AT juliakozakiewicz exploringthepotentialofvirtualrealityineatingdisordertreatment AT kamilkoscielecki exploringthepotentialofvirtualrealityineatingdisordertreatment AT agnieszkakalisz exploringthepotentialofvirtualrealityineatingdisordertreatment AT iwonaskorulska exploringthepotentialofvirtualrealityineatingdisordertreatment AT klaudiamaczewska exploringthepotentialofvirtualrealityineatingdisordertreatment AT patrycjadługozima exploringthepotentialofvirtualrealityineatingdisordertreatment AT paulinagrzeszczuk exploringthepotentialofvirtualrealityineatingdisordertreatment AT aleksandragłowacka exploringthepotentialofvirtualrealityineatingdisordertreatment |