Does Playing with Barbie in Childhood Affect Later Body Image?

Introduction: Although Barbies are heavily criticized for their unattainable bodies, research has not thoroughly examined the long-lasting effects of playing with Barbies in childhood on women’s later body image. In the present study, we examined whether the frequency of play with Barbies, number of Barbies owned, enjoyment when playing with Barbies, and age at first play with Barbies were associated with women’s body dissatisfaction, drive for thinness, and dieting behaviors. Methods: Female young adults (n=68) who had played with Barbies as children responded to surveys. Results: We found that only age at first play with Barbies in childhood was associated with greater drive for thinness in adulthood; no other Barbie variable was associated with body image. Conclusions: These findings suggest that girls who begin playing with Barbies at a young age may be susceptible to developing a greater internalization of the thin ideal. It is important that girls and parents be aware that Barbies do not represent an ideal body to match. Keywords: Barbie; dolls; disordered eating; drive for thinness

School Personnel’s Self-Esteem, Sense of Self-Efficacy and Interventions on Weight-Related Bullying According to Their Weight Perception and Dieting Behaviors

To increase academic performance in children, elementary school personnel are encouraged to focus on socio-emotional learning. Better classroom management and safer environments, exempt of bullying and particularly of weight-related bullying, appear like ways of fostering socio-emotional learning in children. However, some school personnel’s characteristics could impact their ability to act on these dimensions. This research is interested in how weightrelated intervention behaviors, self-esteem and sense of self-efficacy vary according to school personnel’s dieting behaviors and weight perception are related to their self-esteem, sense of self-efficacy, and intervention behaviors on weight-related bullying. A total of 164 Canadian participants filled in questionnaires focusing on bullying, self-esteem, and sense of self-efficacy. Results show that most school personnel felt competent to manage their group of students and to intervene on weight-related bullying. Those who were on a diet and who perceived their weight as higher seem significantly more involved in promoting motivation for school and learning engagement in their students as well as more likely to intervene with the bully when encountering weight-related bullying situations. For their part, participants of normal weight who were on a diet had a significantly lower self-esteem than those dieting and having a perception of overweight. These results are encouraging because they suggest that elementary school personnel feel competent with regards to the socioemotional learning of their students and is actively involved in providing them a safe learning environment.

Vitamin D Receptor Gene Polymorphism and the Risk of Multiple Sclerosis in Azeri Population of Iran

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS), a disease of central nervous system (CNS), is associated with damage to the myelin sheath of neurons. It is demonstrated that vitamin D deficiency plays an important role in the development of the disease. Binding of vitamin D to its specific nuclear receptors is way to exert its function. Objective: Possible correlation between vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene and MS was evaluated in Azeri population of Iran. Method: Different genotypes of Bsml site were determined by using PCR-RFLP method in 148 MS patients and 220 nonrelative healthy controls. Results: In MS patients, genotype bb was significantly higher than the healthy controls (p<0.05). Additionally, most subjects of MS group had been insufficiently exposed to sunlight before the age of 15 (p<0.001). Our findings indicated that the red meat intake in MS patients was significantly higher than the healthy controls (p<0.001). In addition, the healthy controls had appropriate dieting behaviors in comparison to MS patients (excessive intake of some foods) (p=0.0001). Conclusions: In conclusion, genotype BB and sufficient exposure to sunlight before the age of 15 were the protective factors against MS. Although, excessive consumption of red meat and inappropriate dieting behaviors were predisposing factors to MS disease.

Association of Interleukin-1 and Inteleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist Gene Polymorphisms with Multiple Sclerosis in Azeri Population of Iran

Background: Cytokines as important mediators have a critical role in appropriate immune responses, the irregular production of which can lead to Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1 (IL-1) triggers inflammatory responses. Function and production of the cytokine are influenced by IL-1 coding gene polymorphism and those antagonists gene polymorphism. Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the possible correlation between MS and IL-1 related alleles in Azeri population of Iran. Methods: Variable number tandem repeats (VNTR) genotypes of 150 MS patients and 220 healthy non-relative controls were determined. Result: n the healthy controls, genotype TT at IL-1A (-889) location was significantly higher than the MS patients (p=0.0001). However, a significant difference was not found between the two groups in genotypic/allelic frequency at IL- 1B+ 3953 location. Evaluation of the IL-1RA gene revealed that genotype 1/2, and genotype 1/3 were significantly higher in the healthy controls and MS patients, respectively. Our findings indicated that the consumption of fast-food in MS patients was significantly higher than controls (p= <0.05). Also, a considerable number of MS patients had inappropriate dieting behaviors such as not eating breakfast (p= 0.0001), and irregular eating habits (p= 0.0001). Conclusion: Polymorphisms of the IL-1B genes and common alleles of IL-1RA were not considered as risk factors for MS disease. However, genotype TT at IL-1A (-889) location and the rare allele of IL-1RA3 can be a potential risk factor for the disease. Furthermore, inappropriate dieting behaviors and consumption of fast-food can increase the risk of MS.

Self-reported Precipitating Factors for the Development of Eating Disorders in Young Adulthood: A Preliminary Study

Objective: This study aimed to identify the perceived precipitating factors for seeking eating disorder treatment in the Millennial population. The purpose of this study was to understand the Millennial population, and determine if self-reported causes of eating concerns are different for this age demographic than that of the general population. Method: An exploratory analysis of the charts of one hundred individuals, mainly women, who sought eating disorder treatment at an outpatient eating disorder treatment center, for the period of 2014-2018, was completed. Respondents met the age criteria and were 18-36 years old. Results: The majority of individuals reported beginning dieting behaviors or restricting their food intake as the main cause of their eating disorder (44%). Discussion: Millennial individuals are comparative to the general public when self-reporting precipitating events that lead to the development of an eating disorder. Risk factors inherent to eating disorders, such as early dieting, body dissatisfaction, anxiety, and depression remain the same for this population.

Dieting in the Long Sixties: Constructing the Identity of the Modern American Dieter

The gender narrative of the 1960s frequently focuses on the reemergence of feminism, yet a growing diet culture provides an alternate entry point for investigating the era and its gendered foodways. The growth of both movements also provides a new perspective on the consumer landscape and ideals regarding female dieting behaviors. To that end, this article interrogates advertisements for the popular appetite suppressant Ayds, the first to use before-and-after photography and a first-person narrative to detail a woman's weight-loss journey. Using Erving Goffman's frame analysis theory to examine gender while applying a feminist-inspired lens to the text, a female identity emerges. Called the Modern American Dieter, she was a woman trapped between a traditional past and the promise of a new, feminist-inspired future. Both worlds were shaped by the era's marketers, who created a modern dieting narrative (using commodity scientism and female empowerment) that still exists today to sell weight loss.