Body image: A scoping review of the literature

Social workers interact in a multitude of settings and likely encounter individuals with body image issues rendering it important to understand the way social workers approach and intervene around body image. This article presents a scoping review to systematically identify and summarize recent literature around body image in the social work literature. Objectives of the current review include a description of the extent, study characteristics, and topical areas of focus among articles meeting inclusion criteria with the intent to identify knowledge gaps and inform directions for future research. A total of 23 articles met inclusion criteria for review. Findings reveal a concentration of conceptual articles compared with empirical studies and a predominance of a psychodynamic lens. Limitations in sample populations and study designs supporting the evidence base for body image in the social work literature were also evident. Considerations for further research and implications for practice and education are discussed.