@article{cornoExploringVirtualReality2026,

title = {Exploring Virtual Reality for Body Image Assessment and Psychological Interventions in Individuals With Obesity: a Comprehensive Review},

author = {G. Corno and Á. Zamora and S. Bouchard and R. Baños and A. Baillot and J. Monthuy-Blanc},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105024457568?origin=resultslist},

doi = {10.1111/obr.70051},

issn = {14677881 (ISSN)},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-01-01},

journal = {Obesity Reviews},

volume = {27},

number = {4},

publisher = {John Wiley and Sons Inc},

abstract = {Introduction: Individuals living with obesity often experience body image (BI) disturbances, which can negatively affect their quality of life and treatment outcomes. Virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a promising tool for enhancing psychological interventions, but no comprehensive review has specifically focused on VR-based studies addressing BI disturbances in this population. Methods: This comprehensive review examined studies utilizing VR for the assessment and treatment of BI disturbances in individuals with obesity. Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria. Results: Studies were categorized into three groups: (i) VR in psychological interventions for individuals with obesity, (ii) VR interventions following metabolic and bariatric surgery, and (iii) VR-based full-body illusion experiments. The primary clinical application was experiential cognitive therapy, which demonstrated greater efficacy in reducing negative BI compared with standard cognitive behavioral therapy and other treatments. Studies involving post-metabolic and bariatric surgery adults also supported VR's efficacy in reducing BI dissatisfaction, though long-term benefits were inconsistent. Full-body illusion experiments suggested that VR can help modify distorted body perceptions. However, most studies were conducted by the same research group, focused exclusively on women, and were limited to specific geographical regions, primarily Italy. Conclusion: While preliminary results suggest that VR is a promising tool for treating BI disturbances in individuals with obesity, the field remains under-researched. Notably, no studies have explored VR's potential as an assessment tool in this population. Future studies should include more diverse populations, investigate long-term outcomes, and explore potential barriers to clinical implementation. © 2025 The Author(s). Obesity Reviews published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of World Obesity Federation.},

keywords = {adult, Anxiety disorder, Assertiveness, Bariatric Surgery, body dysmorphic disorder, body image, body image assessment, body image avoidance questionnaire, body image disturbances, body satisfaction scale, bulimia, Clinical research, cognitive behavioral therapy, cognitive therapy, Depression, electroconvulsive therapy, exercise, feeding behavior, female, follow up, gastric banding, geography, group therapy, human, Humans, Italy, low calorie diet, male, obesity, overnutrition, physical activity, procedures, psychology, psychotherapy, quality of life, review, social background, systematic review, Therapy, Three-Factor-Eating-Questionnaire, training, virtual reality},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{monthuy-blanc_eloricorps_2022,

title = {eLoriCorps Immersive Body Rating Scale and eLoriCorps Mobile Versions: Validation to Assess Body Image Disturbances from Allocentric and Egocentric Perspectives in a Nonclinical Sample of Adolescents},

author = {J. Monthuy-Blanc and G. Corno and M. Ouellet and F. Touré and F. Bourbeau and M. Rousseau and A. Charette and N. Moreau and N. Roy and V. Drapeau and M. -E. Mathieu and S. Bouchard},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85125088853&doi=10.3390%2fjcm11051156&partnerID=40&md5=040874aa585036b225785e7bdea44cbf},

doi = {10.3390/jcm11051156},

issn = {20770383 (ISSN)},

year  = {2022},

date = {2022-01-01},

journal = {Journal of Clinical Medicine},

volume = {11},

number = {5},

publisher = {MDPI},

abstract = {A growing number of studies have used virtual reality (VR) for the assessment and treatment of body image disturbances (BIDs). This study, conducted in a community sample of adolescents, documents the convergent and discriminant validity between (a) the traditional paper-based Figure Rating Scale (paper-based FRS), (b) the VR-based Body Rating Scale (eLoriCorps-IBRS 1.1), and (c) the mobile app-based Body Rating Scale (eLoriCorps-IBRS 1.1-Mobile). A total of 93 adolescents (14 to 18 years old) participated in the study. Body dissatisfaction and body distortion were assessed through the paper-based FRS, the eLoriCorps-IBRS 1.1 and the eLoriCorps-IBRS 1.1-Mobile. Eating disorder symptoms, body image avoidance, and social physique anxiety were also measured. Correlation analyses were performed. Overall, the results showed a good and statistically significant convergence between allocentric perspectives as measured by the paper-based FRS, the eLoriCorps-IBRS 1.1 and the eLoriCorps-IBRS 1.1-Mobile. As expected, the egocentric perspective measured in VR produced different results from the allocentric perspective, and from cognitive–attitudinal–affective dimensions of BIDs, with the exception of body distortion. These differences support the discriminant validity of the egocentric perspective of eLoriCorps-IBRS 1.1 and are consistent with emerging evidence, highlighting a difference between experiencing the body from an egocentric (i.e., the body as a subject) and allocentric (i.e., the body as an object) perspective. The egocentric perspective could reflect a perceptual–sensory–affective construction of BIDs, whereas allocentric measures seem to be more related to a cognitive–affective–attitudinal construction of BIDs. Moreover, the results support the validity of the eLoriCorps-IBRS 1.1-Mobile with promising perspectives of implementation among young populations. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.},

note = {Publisher: MDPI},

keywords = {Adolescent, adult, Anxiety, article, body build, body dissatisfaction, Body distortion, body image, body image avoidance questionnaire, Body Size, community sample, controlled study, Convergent and discriminant validity, convergent validity, discriminant validity, eating disorder, Eating Disorder Inventory 2, Egocentric perceptual-sensory-affective dimension of body image, female, human, major clinical study, male, mobile application, obesity, Simulator Sickness Questionnaire, social behavior, social physique anxiety scale, underweight, virtual reality},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{monthuy-blancELoriCorpsImmersiveBody2022,

title = {eLoriCorps Immersive Body Rating Scale and eLoriCorps Mobile Versions: Validation to Assess Body Image Disturbances from Allocentric and Egocentric Perspectives in a Nonclinical Sample of Adolescents},

author = {J. Monthuy-Blanc and G. Corno and M. Ouellet and F. Touré and F. Bourbeau and M. Rousseau and A. Charette and N. Moreau and N. Roy and V. Drapeau and M. -E. Mathieu and S. Bouchard},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85125088853&doi=10.3390%2fjcm11051156&partnerID=40&md5=040874aa585036b225785e7bdea44cbf},

doi = {10.3390/jcm11051156},

issn = {20770383 (ISSN)},

year  = {2022},

date = {2022-01-01},

journal = {Journal of Clinical Medicine},

volume = {11},

number = {5},

publisher = {MDPI},

abstract = {A growing number of studies have used virtual reality (VR) for the assessment and treatment of body image disturbances (BIDs). This study, conducted in a community sample of adolescents, documents the convergent and discriminant validity between (a) the traditional paper-based Figure Rating Scale (paper-based FRS), (b) the VR-based Body Rating Scale (eLoriCorps-IBRS 1.1), and (c) the mobile app-based Body Rating Scale (eLoriCorps-IBRS 1.1-Mobile). A total of 93 adolescents (14 to 18 years old) participated in the study. Body dissatisfaction and body distortion were assessed through the paper-based FRS, the eLoriCorps-IBRS 1.1 and the eLoriCorps-IBRS 1.1-Mobile. Eating disorder symptoms, body image avoidance, and social physique anxiety were also measured. Correlation analyses were performed. Overall, the results showed a good and statistically significant convergence between allocentric perspectives as measured by the paper-based FRS, the eLoriCorps-IBRS 1.1 and the eLoriCorps-IBRS 1.1-Mobile. As expected, the egocentric perspective measured in VR produced different results from the allocentric perspective, and from cognitive–attitudinal–affective dimensions of BIDs, with the exception of body distortion. These differences support the discriminant validity of the egocentric perspective of eLoriCorps-IBRS 1.1 and are consistent with emerging evidence, highlighting a difference between experiencing the body from an egocentric (i.e., the body as a subject) and allocentric (i.e., the body as an object) perspective. The egocentric perspective could reflect a perceptual–sensory–affective construction of BIDs, whereas allocentric measures seem to be more related to a cognitive–affective–attitudinal construction of BIDs. Moreover, the results support the validity of the eLoriCorps-IBRS 1.1-Mobile with promising perspectives of implementation among young populations. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.},

keywords = {Adolescent, adult, Anxiety, article, body build, body dissatisfaction, Body distortion, body image, body image avoidance questionnaire, Body Size, community sample, controlled study, Convergent and discriminant validity, convergent validity, discriminant validity, eating disorder, Eating Disorder Inventory 2, Egocentric perceptual-sensory-affective dimension of body image, female, human, major clinical study, male, mobile application, obesity, Simulator Sickness Questionnaire, social behavior, social physique anxiety scale, underweight, virtual reality},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}