The Central Role of Body Image in the Explanation of the Engagement in Disordered Eating Attitudes and Behaviours

Author(s):  
Cláudia Ferreira
2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 127-133
Author(s):  
Maryam Momeni ◽  
Azam Ghorbani ◽  
Zahra Arjeini

Background: Disordered eating attitudes and behaviors have become an issue of worldwide concern. Aim: This research was designed to investigate the role of body image satisfaction in the relationship with eating attitudes among students of Qazvin University of Medical Sciences in Iran. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 385 Qazvin university students of medical sciences were recruited by randomized stratified sampling in 2014. The students completed a three-part questionnaire (socio-demographic, Eating Attitudes Test and Body Shape Questionnaire) in their classrooms. We used hierarchical generalized linear models to identify variables significantly associated with Eating Attitudes Test scores. Results: The mean age of the students was 21.80 ± 2.98 years. Mean scores for the Eating Attitudes Test and Body Shape Questionnaire were 66.75 ± 29.8 and 11.86 ± 10.97 respectively; 18.5% of students had a score of 20 and above (≥ 20) that indicated disordered eating attitudes or as being at risk of eating disorders. In the multiple regression model, the Eating Attitudes Test was related to screening body image dissatisfaction (β = 0.122, P < 0.001). Body mass index was negatively related to the Eating Attitudes Test score (β= -0.488, P < 0.016), and diet was significantly correlated with an increased Eating Attitudes Test score (β = 5.803, P < 0.001). Conclusions: The risk of eating disorders is relatively high among Iranian university students. It can be a warning to health policy makers and should be the focus of special attention. In the present study, the most important factor related to abnormal eating attitudes was body image dissatisfaction. Regarding the complexity of the causes of eating disorders, various preventive and therapeutic interventions are necessary to avoid the dissemination in society of an idealized view of excessive thinness and further unfavorable outcomes in college students.


Author(s):  
Aparicio-Martinez ◽  
Perea-Moreno ◽  
Martinez-Jimenez ◽  
Redel-Macías ◽  
Pagliari ◽  
...  

Disordered eating attitudes are rapidly increasing, especially among young women in their twenties. These disordered behaviours result from the interaction of several factors, including beauty ideals. A significant factor is social media, by which the unrealistic beauty ideals are popularized and may lead to these behaviours. The objectives of this study were, first, to determine the relationship between disordered eating behaviours among female university students and sociocultural factors, such as the use of social network sites, beauty ideals, body satisfaction, body image and the body image desired to achieve and, second, to determine whether there is a sensitive relationship between disordered eating attitudes, addiction to social networks, and testosterone levels as a biological factor. The data (N = 168) was obtained using validated surveys (EAT-26, BSQ, CIPE-a, SNSA) and indirect measures of prenatal testosterone. The data was analysed using chi-square, Student’s t-test, correlation tests and logistic regression tests. The results showed that disordered eating attitudes were linked to self-esteem (p < 0.001), body image (p < 0.001), body desired to achieve (p < 0.001), the use of social media (p < 0.001) and prenatal testosterone (p < 0.01). The findings presented in this study suggest a relationship between body image, body concerns, body dissatisfaction, and disordered eating attitudes among college women.


2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S550-S550
Author(s):  
C. Ferreira ◽  
A.L. Mendes ◽  
J. Marta-Simões

Shame is a universal emotion, that has been emphasized as a pathogenic phenomenon in well-being and mental health. In fact, although shame has been considered an adaptive defensive response, higher levels of this painful emotion are strongly associated with different mental health conditions. The current study aimed to test whether the association of external shame with eating psychopathology would be explained by the mechanisms of body image-related cognitive fusion, psychological inflexibility, and also dietary restraint. A path analysis testing a mediational model was conducted in a sample of 787 women from the general community, aged between 18 and 51 years old. The tested model accounted for 71% of the variance of eating psychopathology and revealed an excellent fit to the data. Results demonstrated that external shame's impact on disordered eating attitudes and behaviors is indirect, carried through increased body image-related cognitive fusion, psychological inflexibility related to physical appearance, and dietary restraint. These findings seem to support the association between shame and eating psychopathology. Furthermore, these data add to literature by suggesting that individuals who present higher levels of shame may present increased tendency to engage in dietary restraint and other maladaptive eating behaviors, through higher levels of body image-related psychological inflexibility and cognitive fusion. The current study seems to hold important clinical implications, highlighting the importance of developing intervention programs in the community which target shame and body image-related maladaptive attitudes and behaviors and, in turn, promote adaptive emotion regulation strategies (e.g., acceptance abilities).Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.


2007 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1039-1046 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hala N Madanat ◽  
Ralph B Brown ◽  
Steven R Hawks

AbstractObjectivesTo identify the impact of body mass index (BMI) and Western advertising and media on the stage of the nutrition transition among Jordanian women, and to evaluate their impact on eating styles and body image.DesignA randomised cross-sectional survey that included a variety of culturally measured Likert-type scales and body size images. In addition, BMI was calculated based on measured height and weight.SettingIn the homes of the participants. The data were collected by female interviewers who worked for the Jordan Department of Statistics.SubjectsThe sample was based on a random and representative selection of 800 mostly urban Jordanian women. A pre-test sample of 100 women was also used to validate the instruments.ResultsWomen tended to agree that they ate based on emotional cues. They had high levels of disordered eating attitudes and behaviours and 42.1% were considered restrained eaters. However, these women also had higher than expected body esteem levels and desired a healthy body size. As expected, being obese was associated with a desire to lose weight, being a restrained and emotional eater, and having more disordered eating attitudes and behaviours. Similarly, Western advertising and media were associated with restrained and emotional eating, desired weight loss, and disordered eating attitudes and behaviours.ConclusionsThere is a need to develop health education materials that explain the influence of obesity on health and the negative psychological and physical consequences of restrained and emotional eating, building on the current cultural preferences of healthy body size. Further implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.


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