Two components of body-image disturbance are differentially associated with distinct eating disorder characteristics in healthy young women

Body-image disturbance comprises two components. The first is perceptual in nature, and is measured by a discrepancy between one’s actual body and perceived self-image (“perceived–actual discrepancy”). The other component is affective, and is measured by a discrepancy between one’s perceived self-image and ideal body image (“perceived–ideal discrepancy”). The present study evaluated the relationships between body-image disturbance and characteristics of eating disorders such as symptoms and related personality traits. In a psychophysiological experiment, female university students (mean ± SD age = 21.0 ± 1.38 years) were presented with silhouette images of their own bodies that were distorted in terms of width. The participants were asked whether each silhouette image was more overweight than their actual or ideal body images. Eating-disorder characteristics were assessed using six factors from the Japanese version of the Eating Disorder Inventory 2 (EDI2). We found that perceived–actual discrepancies correlated with negative self-evaluation (i.e., factor 3 of the EDI2), whereas perceived–ideal discrepancies correlated with dissatisfaction with one’s own body (i.e., factor 2 of EDI2). These results imply that distinct psychological mechanisms underlie the two components of body-image disturbance.

Ideal body image for the opposite sex and its association with body mass index

This research studied the preferences reported by women and men about their Ideal Body Image for the Opposite Sex (IBIOS), and its association with body mass index (BMI). It also analysed the preferences of each sex for a woman’s ideal body image (W-IBI) and a man’s ideal body image (M-IBI). A total of 450 participants aged 18–70 years with different weights were studied. Their IBIOS was assessed using standard figural stimuli. The sample was divided in four groups by sex and age (<45 years; ≥45 years). Sex and age differences in IBIOS, as well as sex differences in the preferences for a woman’s ideal body image (W-IBI) and a man’s ideal body image (M-IBI), were tested using a non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test. The association between IBIOS and BMI was analysed using Spearman’s correlation. In all groups, the most chosen silhouette as IBIOS was number 4. In the under-45 years group, women chose bigger silhouettes for the opposite sex than men did (p<0.05). In this age group women chose as ideal smaller silhouettes for the female body than men did (p<0.01). In addition, women and men in the younger age group and with normal weight chose smaller silhouettes, while those who were overweight or obese selected larger silhouettes (p<0.001). Age was found to be a relevant factor in IBIOS preferences, and in the association between IBIOS and nutritional status as measured by BMI, which was only observed to be significant in the younger age group.

Women’s Preferences for Body Image Programming: A Qualitative Study to Inform Future Programs Targeting Women Diagnosed With Breast Cancer

Purpose: This paper describes women’s opinions of the attributes of the ideal body image program to inform the design, development, and implementation of future programs for those diagnosed with breast cancer.Methods: Deductive-inductive content analysis of semi-structured interviews with 26 women diagnosed with breast cancer (mean age = 55.96 years; mean time since diagnosis = 2.79 years) was performed.Findings: Participants’ opinions regarding the ideal body image program are summarized into five themes, mapping the where (community-based, hospital-based, or online), when (across the cancer continuum or at specific points), how (peer-led programs, professional help, events, presentations/workshops, resources, support groups), what (self-care, counseling and education for one self, education for others, support for addressing sexuality/sexual health concerns, and concealing treatment-related changes), and who (team approach or delivered by women, health professionals, make-up artists).Conclusion: This study provides useful data on what women believe are the attributes of the ideal body image program, which can contribute to efforts aimed at developing and delivering body image programs for women diagnosed with breast cancer that prioritize their needs and preferences.

The Literary Genre of a “Diary of Anorexia”: Aspects of Artistic Semiotics and the Practice of Thanatology

The paper continues the author's research series in the field of women's eating disorders. The focus of this work is on cases of anorexia nervosa, provoked by the desire of the individual to identify himself with the ideal body image, in which the thanatological intention is clearly traced. The destructive impact of an ideal aesthetic image on a person with these features of artistic perception is considered on the example of biographical fiction portraits, stories, novels of teenage girls and young womens suffering from anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa. The author examines the manifesto of anorexia “I don't want to have a doll — I want to be a doll” in the framework of a social semiotic concept. The author sees this phenomenon as interdisciplinary problem that lies on the border of art, psychopathology and thanatology philosophy. The methodological basis of the research is the art semiotic concepts, notion “celebrity anorexia” by E. Burke, the theory of performance by E. Fischer-Lichte, the consept “an aesthetic object” of M.M. Bakhtin.

Testing the discrepancy between actual and ideal body image with the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure (IRAP)

Background The discrepancy between actual and ideal body image is considered an index of body dissatisfaction and a risk factor for eating disorders. While discrepancy has been traditionally tested with figural drawing rating scales, in recent times the use of implicit measures has been explored. Methods This study employs the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure (IRAP) to examine actual-ideal body-size discrepancy in a sample of 130 Spanish college students, as well as its utility to predict symptoms of eating disorders and other body-image relevant measures. Participants completed the Contour Drawing Rating Scale (CDRS). The three smallest and the three largest contour drawings of the CDRS were used as target stimuli in two different IRAP tasks: one in combination with the sample phrases “I am” and “I am not” (that assessed implicit actual body image), another in combination with the phrases “I want to be” and “I don’t want to be” (that assessed implicit ideal body image). After completing both IRAP tasks, participants completed explicit measures of body-image psychological inflexibility, body dissatisfaction, and symptoms of eating disorders. Results Results showed a small implicit bias towards thinness. Participants were faster in affirming than denying that they are thin and that they desire to be thin. They were also faster in affirming than denying that they are fat and that they want to be fat, but to a smaller extent than with thinness. Specifically, the implicit desire to be (or not be) fat emerged as an independent predictor of eating disorder symptoms, psychological inflexibility, and body dissatisfaction that significantly increased the predictive power of CDRS scores. Conclusions These findings underscore the need for further research on specific body image implicit beliefs towards fatness, both in subclinical and clinical populations, in order to examine whether willingness to accept the idea that one can have a larger body size can be a suitable target for prevention and intervention in eating disorders.

PERSEPSI BODY IMAGE DENGAN KEBIASAAN JAJAN MAHASISWA UNIVERSITAS NEGERI SURABAYA (KAMPUS KETINTANG)

Body image is the subjective imagination of a person regarding the judgments of other on his body. The ideal body image can encourage someone to do things such as physical changes and other changes, namely snack consumption patterns. This is often experienced by students. This study aims to determine the relationship between perceptions of body image and snacking habits in students. The research targets were Universitas Negeri Surabaya students who were on the Ketintang campus with a sample of 100 people who had met the inclusion criteria. This study used an observational analytical study design with a cross-sectional approach. The instruments used in this study are Body Shape Questionnaire and interviews using a semi-quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire. The result is 56% of respondents’ body image perceptions negative and 70% of respondents admit to snacking frequently. The resuts of the correlation test showed that there was no relationship between perception of body image and the respondent’s eating habits (p > 0,05). It can be concluded that most respondents are not satisfied with their body image, even though the majority of them often consume snacks every day. It is suggested that students need to get good nutrition education and learning related to body image perception in order to have a positive body image perception. Further research is needed to determine other factors that can affect the perception of body image in students.

The disappearing body: anorexia as a conflict of embodiment

Anorexia nervosa is often regarded primarily as a disorder of the body image, with affected individuals submitting themselves to the dictate of a predominant model of slenderness. However, even though this frequently functions as a gateway to the disorder, the paper intends to show that the actual conflict in anorexia consists in a fundamental alienation of the self from the body. In order to analyze this alienation from a phenomenological point of view, the paper introduces the polarity of lived body (body-as-subject) and physical body (body-as-object). It then explores the phenomenology of anorexia, drawing on characteristic self-reports as well as on the phenomenological, psychoanalytic and cultural science literature. The anorexic conflict of embodiment arises in adolescence, where the body becomes an object of the other’s gaze in a special way. Starting with an attempt to comply with the ideal body image, the anorexic patient increasingly fights against her dependency on her body and its uncontrollable nature, above all its hunger and femininity. To be in total control of her body and to gain independence from it, becomes the source of a narcissistic triumph. Thus, in striving for autonomy and perfection, the anorexic patient alienates herself from her embodiment. This results in a radical dualism of ‘mind’ and ‘body’: pursuing the ideal of an asexual, angelic, even disappearing body. Anorexia is thus conceived as a fundamental conflict of embodiment.

Examining multidimensional risk factors for all populations affected by eating disorders

Decades of studies conducted on eating disorders have given researchers a better understanding of the risk factors of eating disorders. Nevertheless, the complexity of eating disorders results in studies only being able to test a limited sample population, making it difficult to generalize results to the general public. Research must also actively investigate the effect of ongoing technological advancements that have transformed the way people interact with one another on the development of eating disorders. The current study used a literature review style approach to address these current limitations in eating disorder research by analyzing all populations that are affected by eating disorders and the involved risk factors. The research question that this study sought to answer was why only a certain group of individuals develop eating disorders when the entire population is exposed to risk factors. The main hypothesis of this study was whether the internalization of an ideal body style different from the one that an individually currently had while using maladaptive ways to achieve this ideal body image was sufficient to developing an eating disorder. The results supported the hypothesis, as the common theme among all sample populations was that the idealized body style, shape, and size was simply different from the one that individuals currently had. The extent to which this different body style was internalized as well as the extent to which maladaptive measures were taken to achieve this ideal body image was associated with increased vulnerability and likelihood of developing an eating disorder.

On the image promotion on social media by polytechnic students in Nigeria

The research examined the reasons polytechnic students join social media such as Instagram and what they intend to learn from celebrities on Instagram in order to have their ideal body image for self-esteem. The study identified different measures polytechnic students used to achieve desired body image and the level of psychological effect Instagram posts have on their body image. The analysis is based on the findings of a questionnaire survey carried out in two higher institutions in Nigeria (N=600). The results revealed Nigerian students are highly conscious of their body image (91.2%), they employed different measures to achieve their desired body image, the rate at which Nigerian students patronized products advertised on Instagram to acquire ideal beauty standard is relatively high (61.5%) and finally, level of psychological effect of Instagram posts on body image is approximately high (88%).