scholarly journals Development of a Positive Body Image Chatbot (KIT) With Young People and Parents/Carers: Qualitative Focus Group Study (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Beilharz ◽  
Suku Sukunesan ◽  
Susan L Rossell ◽  
Jayashri Kulkarni ◽  
Gemma Sharp
Keyword(s):  
Eating Disorders ◽  
Body Image ◽  
Young People ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
The Body ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Content Structure ◽  
Agile Methodology ◽  
Qualitative Feedback ◽  
Structure And Design

BACKGROUND Body image and eating disorders represent a significant public health concern; however, many affected individuals never access appropriate treatment. Conversational agents or chatbots reflect a unique opportunity to target those affected online by providing psychoeducation and coping skills, thus filling the gap in service provision. OBJECTIVE A world-first body image chatbot called “KIT” was designed. The aim of this study was to assess preliminary acceptability and feasibility via the collection of qualitative feedback from young people and parents/carers regarding the content, structure, and design of the chatbot, in accordance with an agile methodology strategy. The chatbot was developed in collaboration with Australia’s national eating disorder support organization, the Butterfly Foundation. METHODS A conversation decision tree was designed that offered psychoeducational information on body image and eating disorders, as well as evidence-based coping strategies. A version of KIT was built as a research prototype to deliver these conversations. Six focus groups were conducted using online semistructured interviews to seek feedback on the KIT prototype. This included four groups of people seeking help for themselves (n=17; age 13-18 years) and two groups of parents/carers (n=8; age 46-57 years). Participants provided feedback on the cartoon chatbot character design, as well as the content, structure, and design of the chatbot webchat. RESULTS Thematic analyses identified the following three main themes from the six focus groups: (1) chatbot character and design, (2) content presentation, and (3) flow. Overall, the participants provided positive feedback regarding KIT, with both young people and parents/carers generally providing similar reflections. The participants approved of KIT’s character and engagement. Specific suggestions were made regarding the brevity and tone to increase KIT’s interactivity. CONCLUSIONS Focus groups provided overall positive qualitative feedback regarding the content, structure, and design of the body image chatbot. Incorporating the feedback of lived experience from both individuals and parents/carers allowed the refinement of KIT in the development phase as per an iterative agile methodology. Further research is required to evaluate KIT’s efficacy.

scholarly journals Development of a Positive Body Image Chatbot (KIT) With Young People and Parents/Carers: Qualitative Focus Group Study

10.2196/27807 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. e27807
Author(s):  
Francesca Beilharz ◽  
Suku Sukunesan ◽  
Susan L Rossell ◽  
Jayashri Kulkarni ◽  
Gemma Sharp
Keyword(s):  
Eating Disorders ◽  
Body Image ◽  
Young People ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
The Body ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Content Structure ◽  
Agile Methodology ◽  
Qualitative Feedback ◽  
Structure And Design

Background Body image and eating disorders represent a significant public health concern; however, many affected individuals never access appropriate treatment. Conversational agents or chatbots reflect a unique opportunity to target those affected online by providing psychoeducation and coping skills, thus filling the gap in service provision. Objective A world-first body image chatbot called “KIT” was designed. The aim of this study was to assess preliminary acceptability and feasibility via the collection of qualitative feedback from young people and parents/carers regarding the content, structure, and design of the chatbot, in accordance with an agile methodology strategy. The chatbot was developed in collaboration with Australia’s national eating disorder support organization, the Butterfly Foundation. Methods A conversation decision tree was designed that offered psychoeducational information on body image and eating disorders, as well as evidence-based coping strategies. A version of KIT was built as a research prototype to deliver these conversations. Six focus groups were conducted using online semistructured interviews to seek feedback on the KIT prototype. This included four groups of people seeking help for themselves (n=17; age 13-18 years) and two groups of parents/carers (n=8; age 46-57 years). Participants provided feedback on the cartoon chatbot character design, as well as the content, structure, and design of the chatbot webchat. Results Thematic analyses identified the following three main themes from the six focus groups: (1) chatbot character and design, (2) content presentation, and (3) flow. Overall, the participants provided positive feedback regarding KIT, with both young people and parents/carers generally providing similar reflections. The participants approved of KIT’s character and engagement. Specific suggestions were made regarding the brevity and tone to increase KIT’s interactivity. Conclusions Focus groups provided overall positive qualitative feedback regarding the content, structure, and design of the body image chatbot. Incorporating the feedback of lived experience from both individuals and parents/carers allowed the refinement of KIT in the development phase as per an iterative agile methodology. Further research is required to evaluate KIT’s efficacy.

scholarly journals Dancing in a culture of disordered eating: A feminist poststructural analysis of body and body image among young girls in the world of dance

PLoS ONE ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. e0247651
Author(s):  
Nicole Doria ◽  
Matthew Numer
Keyword(s):  
Eating Disorders ◽  
Body Image ◽  
Adolescent Girls ◽  
The Body ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Negative Body Image ◽  
Young Girls ◽  
The World ◽  
Poststructural Analysis ◽  
The Ideal

Eating disorders among adolescent girls are a public health concern. Adolescent girls that participate in aesthetic sport, such as dance, are of particular concern as they experience the highest rates of clinical eating disorders. The purpose of this study is to explore the experiences of young girls in the world of competitive dance and examine how these experiences shape their relationship with the body; feminist poststructural discourse analysis was employed to critically explore this relationship. Interviews were conducted across Canada with twelve young girls in competitive dance (14–18 years of age) to better understand how the dominant discourses in the world of competitive dance constitute the beliefs, values and practices about body and body image. Environment, parents, coaches, and peers emerged as the largest influencers in shaping the young dancers’ relationship with their body. These influencers were found to generate and perpetuate body image discourses that reinforce the ideal dancer’s body and negative body image.

Anorexia Nervosa and Depression in a Woman Blind since the Age of Nine Months

1993 ◽  
Vol 38 (7) ◽  
pp. 469-471 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clifford W. Sharp
Keyword(s):  
Eating Disorders ◽  
Body Image ◽  
Anorexia Nervosa ◽  
Eating Disorder ◽  
Major Depression ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Older Women ◽  
The Body ◽  
Atypical Presentation ◽  
History Of

A woman aged 58 who has been blind since the age of nine months presented with major depression and a 40 year history of an eating disorder characterized by a restriction of food intake and body disparagement. The case is additional evidence that a specifically visual body image is not essential for the development of anorexia nervosa and supports the view that the concept of body image is unnecessary and unproductive in eating disorders. Greater emphasis should be placed on attitudes and feelings toward the body, and the possibility of an eating disorder should be considered in cases of older women with an atypical presentation.

scholarly journals Obesity, Body Image Dissatisfaction, and Sexual Dysfunction: A Narrative Review

Sexes ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-39
Author(s):  
Sean M. McNabney
Keyword(s):  
Body Image ◽  
Sexual Dysfunction ◽  
Sexual Function ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Body Image Dissatisfaction ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Body ◽  
Narrative Review ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Clinical Samples

With approximately two-thirds of the United States adult population classified as overweight or obese, obesity remains a critical public health concern. Obesity not only contributes to several health complications including type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease, but the condition is also associated with sexual dysfunction in both women and men. Despite evidence linking obesity and its concomitant pathophysiology to sexual problems, the potential roles of psychosocial factors such as body image are understudied. This narrative review evaluates the research linkages between obesity and sexual dysfunction, with particular attention to the potential effects of body image dissatisfaction. A literature search of biomedical and psychological databases was used to identify research pertaining to obesity, sexual function, and/or body image constructs. The pathophysiological effects of obesity on sexual function are well-documented in mechanistic studies and animal trials, often with corroboration in human clinical samples. However, very few studies examine obesity, body image, and sexual function in tandem. Body image dissatisfaction appears to independently impinge upon the sexual response cycle and mental health outcomes, irrespective of body weight. While obesity is often associated with negative body image appraisal, it is unclear whether these constructs exert additive, synergistic, or antagonistic effects on sexual responsivity. Additionally, overweight/obese individuals who exhibit higher levels of body image satisfaction or self-confidence appear to be protected from the deleterious effects of obesity on sexual satisfaction, at least to some extent. Greater reliance upon conceptual/theoretical models from the body image literature may better clarify the relationships between these constructs.

Features of the Exercise Environment and Body Image: Preferences for Mirror and Standing Positions in the Aerobics Room

2010 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivanka Prichard ◽  
Marika Tiggemann
Keyword(s):  
Body Image ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Standing Position ◽  
Eating Disturbance ◽  
Important Indicator ◽  
Eating Concerns ◽  
Qualitative Feedback ◽  
Women’S Preferences ◽  
Exercise Environment

Study 1 examined the relationships between mirror and standing position preferences in an aerobics room and body image concerns or eating disturbances. Five hundred and seventy-one female aerobics participants completed a brief questionnaire consisting of established measures. Women who did not like mirrors and who preferred to stand at the back of the aerobics room had significantly greater body-image and eating concerns than women who liked mirrors and stood anywhere in the class. Qualitative feedback from four follow-up focus groups of 20 female aerobics participants indicated that mirrors were disliked by some and used as a motivational tool by others (Study 2). The preference for standing at the back of the room centred around not wanting to be watched by other people. Taken together, the results suggest that women’s preferences for mirror and standing positions in an aerobics room may serve as an important indicator of potential body image and eating disturbance.

Characterization of eating behavior disorders in school-aged children and adolescents: a population-based study

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Márcia Tenório de Souza Cavalcanti ◽  
Ilma Kruze Grande de Arruda ◽  
Emilly Anne Cardoso Moreno de Lima ◽  
Waldemar Brandão Neto ◽  
Estela Maria Leite Meirelles Monteiro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Eating Disorders ◽  
Body Image ◽  
Female Gender ◽  
The Body ◽  
Eating Behaviours ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Eating Pattern ◽  
Compulsive Eating ◽  
Restrictive Eating ◽  
School Aged Children

Abstract Objective: Cross-sectional study to assess the characteristics of the risk behaviors for eating disorders (EDs) in school children between 10 and 14 years of age in the city of Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. Methods: 1405 school-aged children were assessed, using the Eating Behaviours and Body Image Test (EBBIT) to screen for EDs. The normality of the continuing variables was tested using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test with Lilliefors correction. They were described as medians and interquartile intervals (25 and 75th percentiles). Results: The criteria that represented a condition of anorexia and/or bulimia nervosa were considered as strong indicators of risk for EDs in school-aged children who indicated the following behaviors with scores superior to the 75th percentile on the scales: “compulsive eating” 3.0% (CI95% 2.2–4.0); “dissatisfaction with body image/restrictive eating” 1.3% (CI95% 0.8–2.0); children scoring superior to the 30th percentile, “compulsive eating” + “dissatisfaction with body image/restrictive eating”, 0.6% (CI95% 0.3–1.2); and superior to the 50th percentile; “compensatory behavior for hyperphagia” 6.7% (CI95% 5.4–8.1). In addition, greater vulnerability of the female gender was perceived, as well as an increase in the preliminary risk factors of EDs, such as advanced age, dissatisfaction with the body image linked to restrictive behaviors and the compulsive establishment of an eating pattern. Conclusion: This study shows the dimension of the problem in this ecological context and the urgent need for intervention programs, developed among different sectors, from the perspective of the adolescents’ empowerment to prevent and minimize the vulnerability factors of the eating disorders.

scholarly journals Susceptibility to Eating Disorders Among Collegiate Female Student–Athletes

2014 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 406-410 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cherilyn N. McLester ◽  
Robin Hardin ◽  
Stephanie Hoppe
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Eating Disorders ◽  
Body Image ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Student Athletes ◽  
Female Student ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
The Body ◽  
Self Concept ◽  
Care Providers

Context: Research has suggested that the prevalence of young women with eating disorders (EDs) is increasing, but determining the exact prevalence of EDs within the female student–athlete (FS-A) population is difficult. Looking at certain traits may help us to identify their level of susceptibility to developing an ED. Objective: To determine the susceptibility of FS-As to EDs in relation to self-concept, including self-esteem and body image. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Athletic training and health centers at National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I, II, and III institutions via e-mail questionnaire correspondence. Patients or Other Participants: A total of 439 FS-As from 17 participating institutions completed the questionnaires. The sample was primarily white (83.1%) and underclass (61.8%). Main Outcome Measure(s): The questionnaire consisted of 4 parts: 3 subscales of the Eating Disorder Inventory-2, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Body Cathexis Scale, and demographic items. Results: A total of 6.8% of FS-As were susceptible to anorexia and 1.8% were susceptible to bulimia. The majority of FS-As (61%) reported normal self-esteem levels, whereas 29.4% had high self-esteem. Overall, 64.5% were satisfied and 23% were very satisfied with their body image. Conclusions: These results are generally positive in that they suggest FS-As have high levels of self-concept and are at low risk to develop EDs. However, these findings do not mean that all concerns should be dismissed. Although more than 90% of the respondents were not susceptible to an ED, there are still FS-As who may be. Athletic departments should evaluate their FS-As' levels of self-concept so that their susceptibility to EDs can be addressed. The emotional aspect of health care should be included in providing holistic care for student–athletes. Athletic trainers often are the primary health care providers for FS-As, so they should be made aware of this concern.

Body image and eating disorders are common in professional and amateur athletes using performance and image-enhancing drugs (pieds). A cross-sectional study

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S144-S144
Author(s):  
D. Piacentino ◽  
L. Longo ◽  
A. Pavan ◽  
S. Ferracuti ◽  
R. Brugnoli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Eating Disorders ◽  
Body Image ◽  
Body Dysmorphic Disorder ◽  
The Body ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Amateur Athletes ◽  
Image Enhancing ◽  
Psychopathological Disorders

IntroductionThe use of Performance and Image-Enhancing Drugs (PIEDs) is on the increase and appears to be associated with several psychopathological disorders, whose prevalence in unclear.Objectives/AimsWe aimed to evaluate the differences–if any–in the prevalence of body image disorders (BIDs) and eating disorders (EDs) in PIEDs users athletes vs. PIEDs nonusers ones.MethodsWe enrolled 84 consecutive professional and amateur athletes (35.8% females; age range = 18–50), training in several sports centers in Italy. They underwent structured interviews (SCID I/SCID II) and completed the Body Image Concern Inventory (BICI) and the Sick, Control, One, Fat, Food Eating Disorder Screening Test (SCOFF). Mann-Whitney U test and Fisher's exact test were used for comparisons.ResultsOf the 84 athletes, 18 (21.4%) used PIEDs. The most common PIEDs were anabolic androgenic steroids, amphetamine-like substances, cathinones, ephedrine, and caffeine derivatives (e.g. guarana). The two groups did not differ in socio-demographic characteristics, but differed in anamnestic and psychopathological ones, with PIEDs users athletes being characterized by significantly (P-values < 0.05) higher physical activity levels, consuming more coffee, cigarettes, and psychotropic medications (e.g. benzodiazepines) per day, presenting more SCID diagnoses of psychiatric disorders, especially Substance Use Disorders, Eating Disorders, Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), and General Anxiety Disorders, showing higher BICI scores, which indicate a higher risk of BDD, and higher SCOFF scores, which suggest a higher risk of BIDs and EDs.ConclusionsIn PIEDs users athletes body image and eating disorders, and more in general psychopathological disorders, are more common than in PIEDs nonusers athletes.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

scholarly journals The effect of body image preoccupation on decision making in eating disorders

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jakub Onysk ◽  
Peggy Seriès
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Eating Disorders ◽  
Body Image ◽  
Eating Disorder ◽  
The Body ◽  
Body Image Disturbance ◽  
Model Based ◽  
Healthy Control ◽  
Body Image Issues ◽  
Reinforcement Learning Model

AbstractEating disorders are associated with one of the highest mortality rates among all mental disorders, yet there is very little research about them within the newly emerging and promising field of computational psychiatry. As such, we focus on investigating a previously unexplored, yet a core aspect of eating disorders – body image preoccupation. We continue a freshly opened debate about model-based learning in eating disorders and perform a study that utilises a two-step decision-making task and a reinforcement learning model to understand the effect of body image preoccupation on model-based learning in a subclinical eating disorder population, as recruited using Prolific. We find a significantly reduced model-based contribution in the body image disturbance task condition in the eating disorder group as compared to a healthy control. We propose a new digital biomarker that significantly predicts disordered eating, and body image issues.

scholarly journals Conductas alimentarias de riesgo y su relación con la imagen corporal en estudiantes de enfermería

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 57 ◽  
Author(s):  
María Del Pilar Ureña-Molina ◽  
Mayerlin Pacheco-Milian ◽  
Mónica Janett Rondón-Ortega
Keyword(s):  
Eating Disorders ◽  
Body Image ◽  
Nursing Students ◽  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Low Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Body Shape ◽  
Eating Behaviors ◽  
Eating Attitudes ◽  
The Body ◽  
Eating Attitudes Test

Objetivo: determinar la relación entre las conductas alimentarias de riesgo y la imagen corporal en los estudiantes de enfermería durante el primer semestre del año 2015. Materiales y Métodos: estudio de tipo cuantitativo, correlacional. Se utilizaron como instrumentos, el Test de Imagen Corporal - Cuestionario Body Shape Questionnaire y el Test De Actitudes Alimentarias - 26. La muestra estuvo conformada por 181 estudiantes. Resultados: la mayor proporción de estudiantes pertenecen al género femenino, las edades fluctuaron entre los 16 a 28 años, predominando el estado civil soltero, pertenecientes a un estrato socioeconómico bajo (1 -2) y conviven con sus padres. El 63% obtuvo un estado nutricional normal, la mayor parte de ellos no presentaron conductas alimentarias de Riesgo (94%) y se encontraban satisfechos con su imagen corporal (91%). Se estableció una relación estadísticamente significativa entre las conductas alimentarias de riesgo y la imagen corporal. Conclusiones: los estudiantes de enfermería, en su mayoría, no presentaron conductas alimentarias de riesgo, es decir, no realizan prácticas extremas para el control de su peso corporal y los que la presentaron, pueden tener afectaciones en su desempeño académico, las relaciones interpersonales y la calidad de vida. Así mismo, la mayoría de ellos mostraron una apreciación satisfactoria de su imagen corporal y un pequeño porcentaje, estuvo insatisfecho, reflejando diversos desórdenes de tipo conductual, cognitivo y emocional. Se determinó que la integridad de la imagen corporal disminuye la presencia de conductas alimentarias de riesgo. PALABRAS CLAVE: actitud frente a la salud, enfermería, hábitos alimenticios, satisfacción personal. Risky eating behaviors and their relationship with body image among nursing students                                                                   ABSTRACTGoal: to determine the relationship between eating disorders and body image in nursing students during the first half of 2015. Materials and Methods: quantitative, correlational study. There was used as instrument the Test of Body Image - Body Shape Questionnaire and the Eating Attitudes Test - 26. The sample consisted of 181 students. Results: the highest proportion of students are female, ages  between 16-28 years, they have mainly single marital status and they belong to a low socioeconomic status (1 -2) and they  lived with their parents. 63% of them had a normal nutritional status, most of them did not present eating behavior risks (94%) and felt happy with their body image (91%). A statistically significant relationship between eating disorders and body image is established. Conclusions: the nursing students in their higher proportion presented no risk eating behaviors, that means that they do not perform extreme practices to control their body weight and that showed that they can have problems in their academic performance, interpersonal relationships and quality of life. Likewise, most of them showed good appreciation of their body image and a small percentage was dissatisfied, reflecting various behavioral disorders, cognitive and emotional. It was determined that the integrity of the body image decreases the presence of eating disorders.KEYWORDS: attitude to health, nursing, eating habits, personal satisfaction. Comportamentos alimentares de risco e sua relação com a imagem corporal entre estudantes de enfermagem comRESUMO Objetivo: para determinar a relação entre transtornos alimentares e imagem corporal em estudantes de enfermagem durante o primeiro semestre de 2015. Materiais e Métodos: quantitativa, de correlação. Eles foram usados como instrumentos de teste de imagem corporal - Body Shape Questionnaire Questionnarire e Eating Attitudes Test - 26. A amostra foi composta por 181 alunos. Resultados: a maior proporção de estudantes são do sexo feminino, a idade variou entre 16-28 anos, estado civil, principalmente único, pertencente a um baixo nível socioeconômico (1 -2) e viveu com seus pais. 63% tiveram um estado nutricional normal, a maioria de les não apresentava risco comportamentos alimentares (94%) e foram satisfeitos com a sua imagem corporal (91%). Uma relação estatisticamente significativa entre a imagem corporal transtornos alimentares e é estabelecido. Conclusões: o estudantes de enfermagem em sua maior parte apresentou nenhum risco comportamentos alimentares, o que significa que não realizam práticas extremas para controlar seu peso corporal e os que apresentavam pode ter danos em seu desempenho acadêmico, relações interpessoais e qualidade de vida. Da mesma forma, a maioria deles mostrou uma avaliação satisfatória da imagem corporal e uma pequena percentagem, estava insatisfeito, refletindo vários distúrbios comportamentais, cognitivos e emocionais. Determinou-se que a integridade da imagem corporal diminui a presença de distúrbios alimentares. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: atitude para a saúde, nutrição, hábitos alimentares, a satisfação pessoal.  

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document