Do COVID-19-Related Stress, Being Overweight, and Body Dissatisfaction Contribute to More Disordered Eating in Polish Women?—A Cluster Analysis Approach

We hypothesized that women who are overweight, experiencing COVID-19-related stress, and with high body dissatisfaction would have significantly greater disordered eating than those of healthy weight, without stress, and with low body dissatisfaction. Participants (N = 1354 women; Mage= 31.89 years, SD = 11.14) filled in the Contour Drawing Rating Scale, the Emotional Overeating Questionnaire, the Eating Motivation Survey, the Mindful Eating Questionnaire, and a COVID-19-related stress measure and sociodemographic survey. The cluster analysis technique revealed four distinct clusters: (a) Cluster 1 (N = 314): healthy body weight, no COVID-related stress, and low body dissatisfaction (M = 1.19); (b) Cluster 2 (N = 131): overweight, no COVID-related stress, and high body dissatisfaction (M = 2.41); (c) Cluster 3 (N = 597): healthy body weight, COVID-related stress, and low body dissatisfaction (M = 1.27); (d) Cluster 4 (N = 312): overweight, COVID-related stress, and high body dissatisfaction (M = 2.84). Generally, our outcomes partially support our hypothesis, as higher levels of some types of disordered eating were observed in women who were overweight with COVID-related stress and high body dissatisfaction (Cluster 4) as compared with women with healthy body weight, no COVID-related stress, and with low levels of body dissatisfaction (Cluster 1). Our results indicate that both body weight status, as well as COVID-19-related stress and body dissatisfaction, may contribute to the intensity of disordered eating. During future epidemic-related quarantines, this may be an argument in favor of organizing support regarding emotional functioning, body image, and eating behaviors, particularly for the most vulnerable groups—including overweight and obese women.

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COVID-19-Related Stress and Anxiety, Body Mass Index, Eating Disorder Symptomatology, and Body Image in Women from Poland: A Cluster Analysis Approach

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13041384 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 1384

Author(s):

Kamila Czepczor-Bernat ◽

Viren Swami ◽

Adriana Modrzejewska ◽

Justyna Modrzejewska

Keyword(s):

Eating Disorders ◽

Body Image ◽

Body Weight ◽

Weight Status ◽

Excess Body Weight ◽

Drive For Thinness ◽

Negative Body Image ◽

Healthy Body Weight ◽

Related Stress ◽

Healthy Body

To limit the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), many countries have introduced mandated lockdown or social distancing measures. Although these measures may be successful against COVID-19 transmission, the pandemic and attendant restrictions are a source of chronic and severe stress and anxiety which may contribute to the emergence or worsening of symptoms of eating disorders and the development of negative body image. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to: (1) classify different conditions associated with COVID-19-related stress, COVID-19-related anxiety, and weight status; and (2) analyze and compare the severity of dimensions typically related to eating disorders symptomatology and body image in individuals with different COVID-19-related stress, COVID-19-related anxiety, and weight status. Polish women (N = 671, Mage = 32.50 ± 11.38) completed measures of COVID-19-related stress and anxiety along with body dissatisfaction, drive for thinness, and bulimia symptomatology subscales of the Eating Disorders Inventory, and the appearance evaluation, overweight preoccupation, and body areas satisfaction subscales of the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire. The following four clusters were identified through cluster analysis: (a) Cluster 1 (N = 269), healthy body weight and low COVID-related stress (M = 3.06) and anxiety (M = 2.96); (b) Cluster 2 (N = 154), healthy body weight and high COVID-related stress (M = 5.43) and anxiety (M = 5.29); (c) Cluster 3 (N = 127), excess body weight and high COVID-related stress (M = 5.23) and anxiety (M = 5.35); (d) Cluster 4 (N = 121), excess body weight and low COVID-related stress (M = 2.69) and anxiety (M = 2.83). Our results showed that Clusters 3 and 4 had significantly greater body dissatisfaction and lower appearance evaluation and body areas satisfaction than Clusters 1 and 2. Cluster 3 also had a significantly higher level of drive for thinness, bulimia, and overweight preoccupation than Clusters 1 and 2. These preliminary findings may mean that the COVID-19 pandemic and attendant anxiety and stress caused by the pandemic are exacerbating symptoms of eating disorders and negative body image, with women with excess weight particularly at risk.

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How to Maintain a Healthy Body Weight

International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research ◽

10.1024/0300-9831.76.4.208 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 76 (4) ◽

pp. 208-215 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Astrup

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Type 2 Diabetes ◽

Weight Loss ◽

Body Weight ◽

Glycemic Index ◽

Dairy Products ◽

Weight Control ◽

Healthy Body Weight ◽

Healthy Body

The epidemic of both obesity and type 2 diabetes is due to environmental factors, but the individuals developing the conditions possess a strong genetic predisposition. Observational surveys and intervention studies have shown that excess body fatness is the major environmental cause of type 2 diabetes, and that even a minor weight loss can prevent its development in high-risk subjects. Maintenance of a healthy body weight in susceptible individuals requires 45–60 minutes physical activity daily, a fat-reduced diet with plenty of fruit, vegetables, whole grain, and lean meat and dairy products, and moderate consumption of calorie containing beverages. The use of table values to predict the glycemic index of meals is of little – if any – value, and the role of a low-glycemic index diet for body weight control is controversial. The replacement of starchy carbohydrates with protein from lean meat and lean dairy products enhances satiety, and facilitate weight control. It is possible that dairy calcium also promotes weight loss, although the mechanism of action remains unclear. A weight loss of 5–10% can be induced in almost all obese patients providing treatment is offered by a professional team consisting of a physician and dieticians or nurses trained to focus on weight loss and maintenance. Whereas increasing daily physical activity and regular exercise does not significantly effect the rate of weight loss in the induction phase, it plays an important role in the weight maintenance phase due to an impact on daily energy expenditure and also to a direct enhancement of insulin sensitivity.

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Dairy foods and healthy body weight - Scientific substantiation of a health claim related to dairy foods and healthy body weight pursuant to Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 - Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and A

EFSA Journal ◽

10.2903/j.efsa.2008.786 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 6 (8) ◽

pp. 786

Author(s):

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Health Claim ◽

Dairy Foods ◽

Scientific Opinion ◽

Healthy Body Weight ◽

Scientific Substantiation ◽

Healthy Body

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Healthy Body Weight may Modify Effect of Abnormal Birth Weight on Metabolic Syndrome in Adolescents

Obesity ◽

10.1002/oby.22391 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 27 (3) ◽

pp. 462-469

Author(s):

Bin Dong ◽

Yan-Hui Dong ◽

Zhao-Geng Yang ◽

Xi-Jie Wang ◽

Zhi-Yong Zou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Metabolic Syndrome ◽

Body Weight ◽

Birth Weight ◽

Healthy Body Weight ◽

Modify Effect ◽

Healthy Body

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Citizen preferences regarding the public funding of projects promoting a healthy body weight among people with a low income

Social Science & Medicine ◽

10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114015 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 114015

Author(s):

Lisanne S. Mulderij ◽

José Ignacio Hernández ◽

dr.mr. Niek Mouter ◽

dr. Kirsten T. Verkooijen ◽

dr.ir. Annemarie Wagemakers

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Low Income ◽

Public Funding ◽

The Public ◽

Healthy Body Weight ◽

Citizen Preferences ◽

Healthy Body

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Anti-COVID-19 measures threaten our healthy body weight: Changes in sleep and external synchronizers of circadian clocks during confinement

Clinical Nutrition ◽

10.1016/j.clnu.2021.06.019 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Luis Baquerizo-Sedano ◽

J.A. Chaquila ◽

Luis Aguilar ◽

J.M. Ordovás ◽

Pedro González-Muniesa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Circadian Clocks ◽

Weight Changes ◽

Body Weight Changes ◽

Healthy Body Weight ◽

Healthy Body

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Healthwise: Part 1. Maintaining a healthy body weight

British Journal of Healthcare Assistants ◽

10.12968/bjha.2021.15.4.169 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 (4) ◽

pp. 169-173

Author(s):

Linda Nazarko

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Death Rate ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Poor Health ◽

The Third ◽

Lifestyle Choices ◽

The World ◽

Healthy Body Weight ◽

The Uk ◽

Healthy Body

Coronavirus (COVID-19) has claimed the lives of over 150 000 people in the UK ( UK Government, 2021 ). The UK has the third highest death rate in the world and the fourth highest obesity rate ( Lobstein, 2021 ). Although the UK is a developed nation, many people in the UK experience poor health, as a result of being overweight and inactive. Healthcare workers are not immune from these issues. This article, the first in a series, explores how readers can remain healthy and well by making lifestyle choices that promote health.

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