Dr. Estíbaliz Royuela Colomer, from the Department of Clinical and Health Psychology at the UAB, organised a symposium session at the 11th International Congress of Clinical and Health Psychology in Children and Adolescents (Málaga).
Dr. Estíbaliz Royuela Colomer, lecturer in the Department of Clinical and Health Psychology at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), together with Dr. Dimitra Anastasiadou, recently organised a symposium session on the challenges of adolescent mental health in relation to eating behaviour and body image. The session took place within the framework of the 11th International Congress of Clinical and Health Psychology in Children and Adolescents, held from 19 to 22 November in Málaga (Spain).
The session addressed a topic of growing relevance, as recent years have shown a significant increase in problems related to eating behaviour and body image among adolescents. Among the most prominent contributing factors are difficulties in emotional regulation and the impact of social media on body image perception. In this context, developing prevention strategies and evidence-based treatments is becoming increasingly necessary.
The symposium brought together several experts to discuss four key aspects related to eating disorders and body image concerns in young people. First, the role of social media and its influence on the emergence of risk behaviours was explored. This was followed by an analysis of emotional eating in adolescents and its connection to emotional regulation processes. The session also addressed weight stigma, a factor that contributes to discrimination and can negatively affect the psychological well-being of adolescents with eating-related difficulties. Finally, the use of virtual reality was presented as an innovative tool for the assessment and treatment of these disorders, highlighting its potential to improve emotional regulation and body image.
Through this symposium session, the researchers emphasised the importance of creating spaces for reflection and scientific exchange that contribute to advancing the understanding and approach to eating disorders in adolescence.