Editing Cognitive dissonance (section)

=== Body image and health intervention ===
Some school programs discuss body image and eating disorders of children and adolescents. Disordered eating behaviors include binge eating episodes, excessive fasting, vomiting, and diet pills. National data from 2017 and 2018 highlights that since starting college, approximately 50 percent of college students reported becoming increasingly concerned with their weight and body shape.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last=Festinger |first=Leon |date=1962 |title=Cognitive Dissonance |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/24936719 |journal=Scientific American |volume=207 |issue=4 |pages=93–106 |bibcode=1962SciAm.207d..93F |doi=10.1038/scientificamerican1062-93 |issn=0036-8733 |jstor=24936719 |pmid=13892642 |s2cid=56193073}}</ref> Studies examining eating disorders (ED) symptoms in college students reported that only 20 percent of those with positive ED got help. Less than 10 percent were diagnosed with an ED. This Body Project (BP) is rooted in the theory of cognitive dissonance.<ref name=":2" /> Cognitive dissonance occurs when a discrepancy emerges between beliefs and actions. The idea is centered around the notion that if beliefs and actions are inconsistent, then the individual will create a change to align the beliefs and actions. The BP uses cognitive dissonance to target ED, for example, social pressure from peers or not being satisfied with your appearance, to bring awareness and for a healthy and positive change, thoughts toward body image.<ref name=":2" />