BodiMojo Blog

BodiMojo founder Tara Cousineau, Ph.D, recently attended a meeting of the Academy of Eating Disorders, June 10-12, in Salzburg, Austria. The 2010 International Conference on Eating Disorders is a primary gathering place for professionals and advocates engaged in research, treatment and prevention of eating disorders. ICED attendees, faculty, supporters and exhibitors create a unique and inspiring environment for education, training, collaboration and dialogue. We asked Cousineau to talk about her presentation of BodiMojo at AED. 

Q: Why was the AED a good venue for BodiMojo?

A: In the fall of 2009 we were invited to present a talk, “Using Health 2.0 Technology to Promote Healthy Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Positive Body Image,” sponsored by the Information Technology Special Interest Group. BodiMojo.com is a universal heath promotion program for teens, and we cover body image, obesity, and eating issues, among other teen issues, so it was a natural fit with AED. Our research partner, Dr. Debbie Franko, at Northeastern University is active in AED and we have presented other technology-based nutrition and body image related programs there in the past.

Q: What was the main message you were trying to convey about BodiMojo to the AED audience?

A: We presented along with other researchers who use technology in various ways. For instance, one group uses online chat as remote group support for parents of children with eating disorders. Another group has used text-messaging methods to help children and families adhere to diet and exercise plans, and so on. It’s really amazing the various ways media-based technology can be used for prevention and clinical intervention. I believe we’ll see a shift to using technology as adjunct tools to standard treatments.

Q: What was the audience response to BodiMojo?

A: I think the scope of our teen program and the quality of the content and design is impressive. We are also trying to develop a Web resource that will be open to the world, rather than remain a research tool, so we have to keep an eye on the social marketing aspect.  You can’t build something and think people will just come to it.  We now have to find strategic partners who believe in our mission, can help disseminate it, and make teens aware of it.

One question from an audience member was whether we’d consider using Facebook application.  Of course, when we started out a number of years ago, My Space and Facebook were in their infancy.  So it is a challenge to keep up with the trends in technology. One of our next steps is to determine from teens what aspects of BodiMojo they think would be cool to share with their friends on their social network profiles, such as a health goal, quiz, or a positive affirmation (called a “daily mojo”). It gets a bit tricky with teens as we must always be aware of privacy issues. At the same time it’s wise to reach teens where they already congregate in the digital landscape.

Q: What were some of the other highlights at AED?

A: It’s always interesting to learn about innovative programs that have an impact on people. Eating issues often begin during the teen years so it is important for the BodiMojo team to target prevention for this age group. For me, learning about a family-based approach called the Maudsley approach was very hopeful, as well as the emerging research on what’s going on in the brains of people suffering from anorexia and bulimia.  It’s a very complex syndrome. Medications for anxiety or depression don’t work all that well. I recently blogged about this. Right now psychological interventions seem to have the best outcomes, but understanding how the reward system it the brain works seems to be an important component, similar to the neurobiology issues with substance addictions.

Q: What else did you enjoy about your trip to Salzburg?

A: Presenting at a conference in a foreign country is exciting as you learn from researchers and clinicians the world over.  That this conference took place in one of the most beautiful and oldest cities in Europe was a real treat especially because I took my daughter with me.  It’s fun to see a new place through the eyes of a 12 year old. She noticed right away how many people ride bikes!