Prof Phillippa Diedrichs (University of the West of England)

Title: Beyond journal articles: How research psychologists, industry and civil society joined forces to reach 140 million young people with evidence-based body image interventions.

Abstract:

Industries have long shaped body image, appearance ideals, and wellbeing, yet a persistent gap remains between scientific discovery and real-world application. Brands and businesses struggle to access academic expertise and evidence-based tools; researchers, meanwhile, often lack the platforms, resources, connections, and sometimes the confidence or appetite to translate their findings into practice. In the meantime, young people continue to be shaped by appearance pressures that harm their health and curtail their relationships, aspirations, and opportunities. The solution lies not in more research alone, but in a fundamentally different model of knowledge translation, one built on disruptive innovation, ethical industry partnerships, and task-shifting to community-led delivery.

Drawing on ten years of work spanning academia, global brands, civil society, and policy, this talk traces how evidence-based body image interventions were designed, scaled, and delivered to more than 140 million young people worldwide. It examines the realities of cross-sector collaboration candidly, including the processes, tensions, and hard-won lessons, so that researchers and practitioners can consider how similar approaches might strengthen the impact of their own work.

Bio:

Professor Phillippa Diedrichs, PhD, is a social scientist on a mission to create a world where no one is held back by how they look, their gender or identity. She’s an internationally recognised psychologist, researcher, author, and speaker specialising in body image, mental health and inclusion. Phillippa is a Professor of Psychology at the Centre for Appearance Research, UWE Bristol and founder of EVERYBODY Consulting, partnering with brands like Dove, Nike and Instagram to challenge beauty norms and drive social change. Her best-selling teen guide, The Body Confidence Book, is now published in five languages.