An investigation of influencer body enhancement and brand endorsement

Purpose As the cosmetic surgery industry grows and diversifies, societal beauty standards have shifted to include images of surgically enhanced bodies. With the increased use of influencer marketing, it is important for marketers to understand consumer perceptions of these modified appearances. This paper aims to use the lens of perceived morality (PM) to investigate consumer perceptions of cosmetic surgery services and the effect of enhanced body appearance on consumer interest in an endorsed brand. Interpersonal similarity (IS) is tested as a boundary condition. Design/methodology/approach A mixed-methods approach was taken with a qualitative study and two online experiments. Participants were recruited through snowball sampling (NStudy 1 = 133) and Amazon Mechanical Turk (NStudy 2 = 202; NStudy 3 = 270). Findings The themes uncovered in the qualitative study revealed that cosmetic surgery services were acceptable when internally motivated but may signal inauthenticity. The findings of Study 2 suggested consumer interest in an endorsed brand was negatively impacted by body enhancement (BE), with PM as the underlying mechanism. Study 3 results demonstrated IS moderated this effect. The indirect effect was significant only for those low in IS. Originality/value This research contributes to the underexplored area of cosmetic surgery services and its role in influencer marketing. The findings extend the literature on consumer attitudes and perceptions toward these services and provides insight into the intersection of BE and morality. The contribution is notable, as marketers increasing rely on social media influencers, many of whom have undergone cosmetic surgery services and enhanced their body appearance, to promote their brands.

Subjective Health, Physical Activity, Body Image and School Wellbeing among Adolescents in South of Sweden

This study aimed to investigate subjective health and its associations with perceived body image (body appearance and body functioning), physical activity, perceived wellbeing in school, perceived family financial situation, and body mass index among 13- to 15-year-old boys and girls. The study was a cross-sectional study performed in four municipalities in Southern Sweden. Data were obtained from questionnaires completed by adolescents (median age 14; range: 13–15) in Sweden (n = 1518, 51% girls), with a participation rate of 73%. Body weight and body height were measured by school nurses and body mass index was calculated. Logistic regression analyses were carried out with subjective health as the dependent variable. Independent variables included in the model were perceived wellbeing in school, perceived family financial situation, perceived body image, physical activity, body mass index, sex, and residency. Variables significantly associated with good subjective health were good wellbeing in school, a perceived good family financial situation, perceived positive body appearance, perceived positive body functioning, being a boy, and high physical activity. Residency and body mass index were not associated with subjective health. Good subjective health is associated with good wellbeing in school, good family financial situation, positive body image, and high physical activity levels. The results highlight the importance of good school climates, the promotion of positive body image, and increased physical activity for adolescents.

Characterization of Chanterelle (Cantharellus cibarius) and Pine Mushrooms (Tricholoma magnivelare) in Northern Saskatchewan

Baseline data on the boreal jack pine associated chanterelle (Cantharellus cibarius) and pine mushrooms (Tricholoma magnivelare) in the Boreal Plain Ecozone of Saskatchewan was collected in five ecosites of productive mushroom areas. It investigated hourly weather parameters correlated with daily purchase volumes over four years; yield data over five years; varying age/ tree density/species for presence of mushrooms in over 100 stands. All plots fell within the lichen jP ecosite with an overstory entirely of jack pine. The understory was dominated by reindeer lichen, bearberry and blueberry. Plots were well- to rapidly drained, subxeric to submesic, with low nutrient regime. Both chanterelle and pine mushrooms were present in jack pine stands of < 20 years age with greatest occurrence in pure jack pine stands of 41–60 years in moderately open A-B canopy density. Weekly purchase data correlated with environmental parameters. Growing Degree Days (Base Temperature 5oC) + soil temperature (minimum 500 ± 70 GDD), + either soil moisture or precipitation (cumulative 50–100 mm) provided the highest regression value with chanterelle yield 6–13 weeks prior to first appearance. Five year total chanterelle yield from this region averaged 7100 kg/yr. Chanterelle cap diameter was a good predictor of fresh weight and proxy for yield. Pine mushroom was < 10% of chanterelle yield, averaging 1.72 kg/ha over four years based on 5 days picking. With future climate predictions of warmer and moister conditions, timing of fruiting body appearance is anticipated to advance.

An Exploratory Assessment of Sociocultural Attitudes and Appearance Comparison Among Athletes With Physical Disabilities

This study aimed to assess the internalization of sociocultural attitudes and appearance comparison among U.S. athletes with physical disabilities. Female (n = 19) and male (n = 25) athletes between the ages of 18 and 73 years completed a quantitative survey along with two exploratory open-ended questions related to body appearance and influencers. Results showed significant correlations between internalization of the thin and low-body-fat ideal and appearance comparison (r = .55, p < .05) and internalization of the muscular ideal and appearance comparison (r = .76, p < .05) among women. For men, results showed a significant association between internalization of the muscular ideal and appearance comparison (r = .52, p < .05). The findings prompt further investigation of whether appearance comparison and internalization influence body dissatisfaction and disordered eating among athletes with physical disabilities.

Precocious Puberty: Case Report of a 3-year Old Girl

Precocious puberty is the onset of puberty before the age of 8 years in girls and 9 years in boys. There is a global trend towards earlier onset of puberty. The prevalence is not known in Nigeria. Precocious puberty has implications such as inappropriate body appearance, psychological effects and decreased final height. This is a rare case report of a 3-year-old girl who presents with precocious puberty. Investigations did not reveal the cause. Investigations and treatment are expensive and a challenge in a poor resource setting. Early diagnosis and treatment are recommended to reduce the complications associated with it.

Is a Picture Worth a Thousand Words? Using Photo-Elicitation to Study Body Image in Middle-to-Older Age Women With and Without Multiple Sclerosis

In this study, we explored how women with varying relationships to disability and aging used photographs to represent their body image experiences. Seven middle-aged and older adult women with and without multiple sclerosis were asked to provide up to 10 photographs that represented their body image and complete a one-on-one interview. We used reflexive thematic analysis to develop themes and interpret the findings. Overall, the women expressed not only complicated relationships with their bodies, represented through symbolism, scrutiny of body features (e.g., posture, varicose veins, and arthritis) but also deep reflection linked to positive body image and resilience. These findings revealed not only the nuanced experiences women have with aging, disability, and gender but also the commonly experienced ingrained views of body appearance as each participant illustrated a difficult negotiation with the aesthetic dimension of their body image. Finally, we provide important implications of the use of visual methods in body image research.

Body Appearance (Dis)satisfaction Scale applied to Brazilian university students

ABSTRACT Objective This study aimed to estimate the psychometric properties of the Body Area Scale (BAS) applied to a sample of Brazilian university students to support the validity and reliability of the obtained data. Methods We performed confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) using the Comparative Fit index (CFI), Tucker-Lewis index (TLI), and Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA). We calculated the average variance extracted (AVE), composite reliability (CR), and ordinal alpha coefficient (α). All estimates were calculated separately for women and men. A thousand students participated (women = 64.0%, mean [M] age = 20.92, standard deviation [SD] = 2.40 years; body mass index (BMI) M = 23.24, SD = 3.97 kg/m2). Results Considering the CFA results, the original unifactorial model (24 items) did not fit data for women and men. Instead, the two-factorial model with 19 items had adequate fit for male and female samples (CFI = 0.922-0.958; TLI = 0.912-0.952; RMSEA = 0.090-0.096), as well as good convergent validity (AVE = 0.536-0.668) and reliability (CR = 0.920-0.952; α = 0.916-0.948). Once BAS was proposed to evaluate satisfaction/dissatisfaction with one’s own body, and considering the reformulation of the factorial model, we proposed a new name for the instrument: Body Appearance (Dis)Satisfaction Scale (BAS-R). Conclusion Professionals can now include the BAS-R in future protocols to evaluate satisfaction/dissatisfaction with the body in Brazilian students.

Body appreciation and body appearance pressure in Norwegian university students comparing exercise science students and other students

Background Body image is considered a core issue for public health and associates with university students’ overall health. Due to positive associations between exercise and body image, it has been suggested that students within an exercise science program might be more body appreciative compared to other students. On the other hand, the strong societal idealization of the athletic body may expose them to a pressure of having a specific body appearance, which may result in unfavorable health consequences. Nevertheless, studies investigating these hypotheses are lacking. We therefore aimed to explore the level and associations of body appreciation, body appearance pressure, body image related mental health constructs, physical activity, and exercise, in Norwegian university exercise science and non-health reference students. Method Male and female exercise science students (n = 517) and reference students (n = 476), from nine large universities in Norway took part in this cross-sectional study. Participants responded to the Body appreciation scale-2, a self-developed questionnaire on body appearance pressure, Physical Appearance Comparison Scale-Revised, Sociocultural attitudes towards appearance questionnaire-4R, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Satisfaction with Life Scale, and questions about physical activity and exercise. Between group differences were analyzed using student independent t-test and ANCOVA for parametric data and Chi-square test for categorical data, and associations were evaluated by Person’s correlation. P-values ≤0.05 were defined as significant. Results Female exercise science students had higher scores on body appreciation compared to reference students. No group difference was found in males. A high percentage of students reported experiencing body appearance pressure, with 69 and 85% among male and female exercise science students, and 57 and 83% among male and female reference students. Fitness centers were the settings where most respondents experienced body appearance pressure. Body appreciation was strongly associated with favorable scores on body image related mental health constructs, while personally experienced body appearance pressure associated with destructive scores on the same constructs. Conclusion Body appearance pressure is an issue among university students regardless of study program. Actions to promote body appreciation and prevent body appearance pressure may include an implementation of media literacy, body functionality, and exercise as topics within the education program to safeguard students’ health and well-being. Clinical trial registry No. NCT04256967.

The discourse of men's facial care products in Instagram from the Foucauldian perspective

Talking about body appearance, of course, cannot be separated from metrosexual men who tend to place great importance on appearance, from the way of dress to rituals in caring for their bodies. The men's body has been viewed and utilised as a commodity from the capitalist industry to rival the women's body. This study seeks to explore the discourse Erto's Men as one of facial care product for men built through posts on Instagram because Erto's Men is the face care product that appears the most in searches via #metrosexual on Instagram. The method used in this research is a critical discourse analysis on the @ertosmen Instagram post from June until August 2020. The results obtained in this study indicate that Erto's Men as a men facial skincare product builds a disciplining men's bodies by juxtaposing metrosexual representations through clean and bright skin, and with masculine representations through beard growth. So that through this representation, Erto's Men also helps build a health discourse for men through masculine concepts.