Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41862984›Full record

ArticleArchives of public health = Archives belges de sante publique2026

Usefulness of a virtual reality programme for body self-image in obese and overweight patients: a focus on gender differences - a randomised trial.

Marina Berbegal-Bernabeu, Nahuel García-D'Urso, Miriam Sánchez-Sansegundo, Carmen Vives-Cases, Mario Tomé-Fernández, Ana Zaragoza-Martí

Registry-linked trialAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Archives of public health = Archives belges de sante publique, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT07205029 ("Predictive Models of Human Body Morphological Evolution to Improve Adherence and Motivation in Dietary-Nutritional Treatments for Overweight and Obesity" [Modelos Predictivos de la Evolución Morfológica Del Cuerpo Humano Para Mejorar la Adherencia y Motivación en Tratamientos Dietético-nutricionales Del Sobrepeso y la Obesidad].), which is not on this map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT07205029 nacompletednot on this map

"Predictive Models of Human Body Morphological Evolution to Improve Adherence and Motivation in Dietary-Nutritional Treatments for Overweight and Obesity" [Modelos Predictivos de la Evolución Morfológica Del Cuerpo Humano Para Mejorar la Adherencia y Motivación en Tratamientos Dietético-nutricionales Del Sobrepeso y la Obesidad].

TypeinterventionalSponsorJorge Azorin LopezRan2022 to 2022Enrolled133ConditionsBody Image, Executive Function (Cognition), Obesity &Amp, AmpArmsExperimental: Nutritional and Virtual reality intervention, Control: Nutritional intervention
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Marina Berbegal-BernabeuDepartment of Health Psychology, Health Sciences Faculty, University of Alicante, Alicante, 03690, Spain. marina.berbegal@gcloud.ua.es.
Nahuel García-D'UrsoDepartment of Computer Technology, University of Alicante, Alicante, 03690, Spain.
Miriam Sánchez-SansegundoDepartment of Health Psychology, Health Sciences Faculty, University of Alicante, Alicante, 03690, Spain.
Carmen Vives-CasesDepartment of Community Nursing, Preventive Medicine and Public Health and History of Science, University of Alicante, 03690, Alicante, Spain.
Mario Tomé-FernándezDepartment of Health Psychology, Health Sciences Faculty, University of Alicante, Alicante, 03690, Spain.
Ana Zaragoza-MartíDepartment of Nursing, Health Sciences Faculty, University of Alicante, Alicante, 03690, Spain.

Funding

MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and ERDF/EU Grant PID2020-119144RB-100 and Grant PID2023-149562OB-I00
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundExcess weight significantly impacts body image perception. While research on body satisfaction in overweight and obese individuals is extensive, most studies report high dissatisfaction, especially among women. This study aimed to evaluate the utility of a virtual reality (VR) intervention for improving body image perception among overweight and obese individuals and to examine gender differences.

methodsA total of 102 overweight and obese adults were recruited from the general community (Alicante, Spain) and randomized to the experimental (EG, n = 50) or control (CG, n = 52) group. The nutritional, anthropometric, body composition, clinical parameters and body self-image questionnaire (MBRSQ) scores were collected at baseline (Time 1) and postintervention (Time 2). Both groups received nutritional recommendations based on the Mediterranean diet (DM). Only the EG went through the 4D modelling machine, which showed the morphological changes of each participant over time through immersive VR.

resultsThe results revealed that the EG improved in all the MBRSQ dimensions after the intervention, particularly in terms of the subjective importance of corporeality (SIC), physical fitness behaviors (BAMPF), and self-assessed physical attractiveness (SAPA). Significant gender differences emerged, with women exhibiting greater body dissatisfaction, greater body image concerns, and lower engagement in health-oriented behaviors.

conclusionThis study provides evidence of VR’s usefulness in improving body self-image perception and promoting healthier behaviors. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of addressing gender-based differences, as women experience greater societal pressures regarding body image. These findings highlight VR’s potential as a transformative tool for managing body image issues in individuals with excess weight.

trial registrationThe study was retrospectively registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT07205029, registered on 30 September 2025).

Indexed as

Body self-imageGenderObesityOverweightVirtual reality

Identifiers

PMID41862984
PMCPMC13126808

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.