New possibilities in the prevention of eating disorders: The introduction of positive body image measures

• Measuring positive ways of inhabiting the body expands our ability to promote health.
• Studying positive ways of inhabiting the body informs knowledge of protective factors.
• Positive ways of inhabiting the body can be amplified during critical life stages.
• The Developmental Theory of Embodiment can broaden the scope of prevention programs.
• Programs aimed at lowering risk may also enhance positive ways of inhabiting the body.

Delineating positive psychological processes in inhabiting the body, as well as quantitative measures to assess them, can facilitate progress in the field of prevention of eating disorders by expanding outcome evaluation of prevention interventions, identifying novel mediators of change, and increasing highly needed research into protective factors. Moreover, enhancing positive ways of inhabiting the body may contribute toward the maintenance of gains of prevention interventions. Integrated social etiological models to eating disorders that focus on gender and other social variables, such as the Developmental Theory of Embodiment (Piran & Teall, 2012a), can contribute to positive body image intervention development and research within the prevention field. Using the Developmental Theory of Embodiment as a lens, this article explores whether existing prevention programs (i.e., Cognitive Dissonance and Media Smart) may already work to promote positive body image, and whether prevention programs need to be expanded toward this goal.