Can a short psychoeducation session on functional nutrition reduce disordered eating and improve body image?

INTERVENTION: Functional nutrition is psychoeducation about the biological benefits of nutrition accompanied by a simple message: eat carbs regularly throughout the day. This randomised trial will compare a control condition to two intervention groups – both will receive a single session intervention containing psychoeducation about functional nutrition. The psychoeducation will be delivered online via PowerPoint slides embedded on the Qualtrics survey platform incorporating interactive components (such as text entry questions and a small quiz to assess understanding). The anticipated duration of this psychoeducation is 15 mins. One group will receive a goal setting exercise related to nutrition (i.e., indulging) and the second group will additionally be asked to think about current obstacles that impede the realization of the goal (i.e., indulging + mental contrasting). Specifically, the indulging group will receive these instructions: "Imagine yourself looking ahead over the next week like a path stretching before you. At the end of this path is your wish, something that will be happening differently in your life. What is it? Name your wish in 3‐6 words:" "Imagine yourself achieving this wish. Picture the scene in vivid detail—how does it feel to have achieved this? What does it say about you as a person?" Whereas, the mental contrasting group will receive these instructions in addition: Imagine yourself looking ahead over the next week like a path stretching before you. At the end of this path is your wish, something that will be happening differently in your life. What is it? Name your wish in 3‐6 words:" "Imagine yourself achieving this wish. Picture the scene in vivid detail—how does it feel to have achieved this? What does it say about you as a CONDITION: eating disorders; ; eating disorders Mental Health ‐ Eating disorders PRIMARY OUTCOME: Disordered eating behaviours [The ED15 (Tatham et al., 2015). Baseline and 1‐week post‐baseline ] Disordered eating cognitions [The EDEQ‐7 (Jenkins & Davey, 2020). Baseline and 1‐week post‐baseline ] Weight and shape concerns[The Weight Concern Scale (Killen et al., 1994). Baseline and 1‐week post‐baseline ] INCLUSION CRITERIA: Eligibility includes:(1) being able to read and write in English, (2) ages 17‐25, (3) having access to the internet and a device capable of completing the study measures, (4) first year psychology students participating in the Flinders SONA study pool. SECONDARY OUTCOME: Anxiety [The General Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD‐7; Spitzer et al., 2006) Baseline and 1‐week post‐baseline ] Body Image Acceptance and Action [The Body Image Acceptance & Action Questionnaire (BI‐AAQ; Sandoz et al., 2013) . Baseline and 1‐week post‐baseline ] Body Image Flexibility [The psychological flexibility for body image scale (Psych‐Flex‐BI, Coimbra et al., 2025) Baseline and 1‐week post‐baseline ] Depression [The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ‐9; Kroenke, Spitzer & Williams, 2001) Baseline and 1‐week post‐baseline ] Depression, Anxiety and Stress symptoms (composite, measured within one scale, indicated by scores from three subscales ‐ i.e., depression, anxiety and stress subscales)[The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS‐21; Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995) Baseline and 1‐week post‐baseline ] Goal attainment [A single item developed to measure goal setting and attainment based on the single session intervention content. Item: How many days did you have at least 4 serves of carb, examples of serves are provided below. N Days ___; ; ; Examples: ; ½ cup muesli ; 1 ½ cups Corn Flakes ; ¾ cup cooked cous cous ; 1 cup Sustain ; 1 roll ; 1 cup cooked barley ; 1 cup All Bran ; 1 pita bread ; 1 cup sweet corn ; 1 cup Sultana Bran ; 2 slices bread ; 1 cup cooked quinoa ; 1 cup Just Right ; 2 slices fruit toast ; 1 cup mashed potato ; 1 cup cooked porridge ; 2 tortillas ; 2 medium baked potatoes ; 1 ½ cups Special K ; 1 cup cooked pasta ; 1 large sweet potato ; 1 ½ cups Rice Bubbles ; 1 cup cooked rice ; 2 cups cooked noodles Baseline and 1‐week post‐baseline ] Negative affect [The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule – Negative Affect (PANAS‐ NA; Watson et al., 1988) . Baseline and immediate post baseline (after participants receive the psychoeducation). ] State body image[The Body Image State Scale (BISS; Cash et al., 2002) Baseline and immediate post baseline (after participants receive the psychoeducation). ]