Peer 2 peer: Impact of a peer based physical fitness intervention on college students' body image

There is evidence that interventions to increase physical activity among college students may have a negative impact on women's body images (Zabinski, 2001). This study investigates the secondary effects of a physical activity and fitness intervention on college men and women's body image concerns. Over the course of two semesters, students (n=248) enrolled in six sections of a college personal health class were assigned to one of two projects: physical fitness improvement with the assistance of a peer fitness trainer or an independent, behavior change project. Two subscales of the eating disorder inventory (drive for thinness and body dissatisfaction) and an analogous measure of body dissatisfaction for men were used to assess body image concerns at pre and post-treatment. Changes in body image over the course of the academic semester and the effect of the peer fitness intervention on body image will be examined. Results will be compared and contrasted to previous research. Implications for research and practice will be addressed.