How do attitudinal and perceptual factors influence the development of eating disorders?

Eating disorders are a notoriously difficult condition to treat which
commonly present in middle-adolescence and often persist into
adulthood. They have three main components (cognitive-affective,
behavioural, and perceptual) of which the cognitive-affective
component is the main target in treatment such as CBTE9 and
preventative interventions. However, the body size and shape
misperception is a key diagnostic criterion which is not often targeted
in preventative interventions. The aim of this PhD is to determine at
what stage of development body dissatisfaction develops (Study 1) in
order to target preventative interventions at the correct age; to
determine the difference in attentional bias and body image
discrepancies between girls at low or high risk of disordered eating
and girls with an eating disorder (Study 2); and to use these results in
Study 3 to adapt mirror exposure therapy to be used as a preventative
tool targeting the perceptual component of eating disorders.