Body image disturbances, or BID, can have negative effects on individuals and can be seen in women of many different ages. In fact, BID can even be found in girls as young as seven years old. Many negative effects have been attributed to BID, such as increased anxiety, stress, and depression, which can cause both psychological and physical problems (Devaraj and Lewis, 2010). Therefore, it is necessary to help women combat these negative effects of body image disturbance and maintain a more positive body image. Body image disturbance can be defined as a maladaptive internalization of an individual's weight, shape, and/or appearance, typically involving any combination of behavioral, attitudinal, and perceptual components (Bhatnagar, Wisniewski, Solomon, and Heinberg, 2013). The behavioral component includes beliefs about appearance and body satisfaction, and the behavioral component includes the frequency of behaviors related to weight management or avoidance. Additionally, the perceptual component includes levels of accuracy in estimating body shape and size (Bhatnagar et al., 2013). If the symptoms of BID are left untreated, it has been found that there is a possibility that BID will worsen and develop into an eating disorder. Research has shown that there is a strong link between eating pathology and BID. Additionally, BID is hypothesized as a diagnostic criterion for anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa (Bhatnagar et al., 2013). Poor body image plays a crucial role in both the onset and maintenance of eating disorders. Researchers have also found that high levels of BID are linked to poorer responses to treatment and higher rates of relapse in people diagnosed with eating disorders. By confronting a...... middle of paper ......0167.53.3.325Vogel, D., Wade, N., & Hackler, A. (2007). Perceived public stigma and willingness to seek advice: The mediating roles of self-stigma and attitudes toward counseling. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 54, 40-50. doi:10.1037/0022-0167.54.1.40Vogel, D. and Wester, S. (2003). To ask for help or not to ask for help: the risks of self-disclosure. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 50, 351-361. doi: 10.1037/0022-0167.50.3.351Vogel, D., Wester, S., Wei, M., and Boysen, G. (2005). The role of outcome expectations and attitudes on decisions to seek professional help. Journal of Counseling Psychology,52, 459-470. doi:10.1037/022-0167.52.4.459Wester, S., Vogel, D., O'Neil, J., and Danforth, L. (2012). Development and evaluation of the Gender Role Conflict Scale Short Form (GRCS-SF). Journal of Men and Masculinity, 13 199-210. doi: 10.1037/a0025550