A Systematic Review of the Efficacy of Interventions that Aim to Increase Self-Compassion on Nutrition Habits, Eating Behaviours, Body Weight and Body Image

Individuals with higher body weight are at a greater risk of having negative body image (Friedman & Brownell, 1995). Yet current body image interventions, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), are largely tested with individuals with normal weight or individuals with eating disorders. Furthermore, cognitive restructuring, one of the key components of CBT for body image (Alleva et al., 2015), relies on the assumption that negative cognitions or appraisals regarding the body are unbalanced or distorted in some way. However, people with higher body weight are 50% more likely to experience major discrimination based on their weight status and thus may possess some “evidence” from lived experience of weight bias that would lend support to their negative body-related thoughts (Puhl & Brownell, 2001; 2006). The use of compassion-focused approaches might be particularly helpful in overcoming these obstacles. Self-compassion refers to the capacity for mindfully reflecting on one’s own perceived flaws, mistakes, or wrongdoings with kindness and with an appreciation for the inherent imperfection in everyone (Neff, 2013). The present study tested the impact of various thinking strategies for managing negative body image in women with higher body weight after getting on the scale, a commonly distressing body image trigger (Ogden & Evans, 1996). Participants (N = 79) were recruited from the community and screened for moderate body dissatisfaction. They were randomly assigned to receive a single training session in cognitive restructuring (CR), self-compassion (SC), or distraction (Control) strategies after being weighed. Participants in all three of the groups reported improvements in body dissatisfaction and negative affect immediately following the training. Relative to those in the Control group, those participants who received training in CR or SC strategies reported greater improvements in body image, body image flexibility, self-compassion, and cognitive distortions one week after the training. These findings suggest that CR and SC strategies may be helpful in improving the distress associated with being weighed among women with higher body weight. The results may have broader implications for the development of psychosocial interventions focused on improving body image among these individuals.

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Body Attitudes and Eating Behaviours of Female Malay Students Studying in Australia

South Pacific Journal of Psychology ◽

10.1017/s0257543400000225 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 14 ◽

pp. 16-29 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Andrew J. McDowell ◽

Malcolm J. Bond

Keyword(s):

Body Image ◽

Body Weight ◽

Pacific Region ◽

Actual Body Weight ◽

Eating Behaviours ◽

Potential Influence ◽

Negative Attitudes ◽

Depth Analysis ◽

Body Attitudes ◽

Current Weight

AbstractThe extent to which 113 adolescent Malay women studying in Australia expressed the desire to lose weight was examined, as was the degree to which this desire reflected a genuine need to lose weight. Comparisons between participants who expressed the desire to either lose weight, stay at their current weight, or gain weight were made using both attitudinal and behavioural components of body image. An in-depth analysis of those who wished to lose weight was also undertaken. There was evidence that negative body attitudes were in excess of what actual body weight might dictate. However, these negative attitudes were not found to be consistently predictive of dysfunctional eating behaviours. Results were interpreted with reference to the potential influence of Westernisation in countries in the South Pacific region, and in particular how attitudes and behaviours are influenced by this process.

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Cognitive-Behavioural Treatment For Women Who Binge Eat

Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research ◽

10.3148/68.3.2007.139 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 68 (3) ◽

pp. 139-142 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Jill Shelley-Ummenhofer ◽

Peter D. MacMillan

Keyword(s):

Body Image ◽

Body Weight ◽

Binge Eating ◽

Self Esteem ◽

Behavioural Therapy ◽

Obese Women ◽

Eating Behaviours ◽

Group Setting ◽

Behavioural Treatment ◽

Cognitive Behavioural

Purpose: A dietitian-administered, shortened form of the Apple and Agras cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) method was evaluated in a group setting to determine its effect on improving obese women's self-esteem and reducing binge-eating behaviours, depression, and negative body image. Methods: Participants were recruited through newspaper and radio advertisements. Respondents who met study selection criteria were randomly assigned to either a CBT group (n=13) or a delayed group (D-CBT) (n=9). The treatment was administered over six weekly sessions to the CBT group, and then twice weekly over three weeks to the D-CBT group. Two measures of bingeing behaviour (severity and frequency), three measures of mood (depression, body image, and self-esteem), and body weight were assessed. Results: The intervention did not result in any changes in body weight. There were statistically significant and clinically important changes after treatment (p<0.05) for all five measures. Binge-eating severity and frequency decreased, depression decreased, body image improved, and self-esteem improved. All changes were greater in the six-week treatment group. Conclusions: The dietitian-administered, group setting CBT program is effective for reducing binge eating and improving emotional state in obese women.

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The Effects Of Shame, Self-compassion And Perfectionistic Self-presentation Of Body Image On Eating Psychopathology

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2016.01.1549 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 33 (S1) ◽

pp. S428-S428

Author(s):

A.L. Mendes ◽

C. Ferreira ◽

J. Marta-Simões ◽

I.A. Trindade

Keyword(s):

Body Image ◽

Disordered Eating ◽

Eating Attitudes ◽

Social Contexts ◽

Eating Behaviours ◽

Self Presentation ◽

Eating Psychopathology ◽

External Shame ◽

Self Compassion ◽

The Individual

Shame is considered a painful emotion that emerges in social contexts when the individual perceives that others see the self as inferior, inadequate or defective. This emotion is associated with decreased levels of self-compassion and may trigger several defensive responses, such as the need to present a perfect body image. Furthermore, shame has been conceptualized as a key component of eating psychopathology.This study aims to explore the role of external shame in the engagement in disordered eating attitudes and behaviours through the mechanisms of self-compassion and body image-related perfectionistic self-presentation. A path analysis testing a mediational model was conducted in a sample of 469 women from the general community, aged between 18 and 35 years old.The tested model explained 49% of the eating psychopathology's variance and presented excellent fit indices. Results demonstrated that external shame has a direct effect on disordered eating behaviours and simultaneously an indirect effect through the mechanisms of self-compassion and the need to present a perfect physical appearance.These results seem to corroborate the link between shame and eating psychopathology. Additionally, these data suggest that women who present higher levels of shame show decreased self-compassion and tend to adopt compensatory maladaptive strategies, such as striving for a perfect body. Furthermore, these findings have significant clinical implications, highlighting the importance of developing new programs focused on shame and on the promotion of adaptive emotion regulation strategies, such as self-compassion.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

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Selected eating behaviours and excess body weight: a systematic review

Obesity Reviews ◽

10.1111/j.1467-789x.2011.00936.x ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 106-135 ◽

Cited By ~ 120

Author(s):

A. E. Mesas ◽

M. Muñoz-Pareja ◽

E. López-García ◽

F. Rodríguez-Artalejo

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Body Weight ◽

Excess Body Weight ◽

Eating Behaviours

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Effect of changes to the school food environment on eating behaviours and/or body weight in children: a systematic review

Obesity Reviews ◽

10.1111/obr.12224 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 15 (12) ◽

pp. 968-982 ◽

Cited By ~ 76

Author(s):

C. E. Driessen ◽

A. J. Cameron ◽

L. E. Thornton ◽

S. K. Lai ◽

L. M. Barnett

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Body Weight ◽

Food Environment ◽

Eating Behaviours ◽

School Food ◽

School Food Environment

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P.7.f.002 Prevalence of distorted body image in young Koreans and its association with age, sex, body weight status, and disordered eating behaviours

European Neuropsychopharmacology ◽

10.1016/s0924-977x(15)30924-x ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 25 ◽

pp. S651

Author(s):

Y. Jung ◽

I. Sohn

Keyword(s):

Body Image ◽

Body Weight ◽

Disordered Eating ◽

Weight Status ◽

Eating Behaviours ◽

Body Weight Status ◽

Distorted Body Image

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Disordered eating behaviours, body image and social networking in a type 1 diabetes population

Journal of Health Psychology ◽

10.1177/1359105319888262 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 135910531988826

Author(s):

Irini L Verbist ◽

Laura Condon

Keyword(s):

Body Image ◽

Type 1 Diabetes ◽

Body Weight ◽

Social Networking ◽

Disordered Eating ◽

Diabetes Management ◽

Body Image Dissatisfaction ◽

Eating Behaviours ◽

Convenience Sample

The purpose of this study was twofold: to examine predictors of disordered eating behaviours and body image dissatisfaction, including social networking, among type 1 diabetes population, and to qualitatively explore the relationship between type 1 diabetes management and body image. A convenience sample of 121 type 1 diabetes patients ( F = 106; Mage = 36 ± 6.5) was collected via online questionnaires, of which 98 patients responded to two open-ended questions. Young age and negative body image explained 58.8 per cent of disordered eating variance, while body weight and social networking negatively contributed to poor body image (29.9%). Qualitative analysis revealed three themes: no control over body weight, limitation in clothing options and discomfort towards medical equipment.

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