Abstract

Individuals with higher body weight are at a greater risk of having negative body image (Friedman & Brownell, 1995). Yet current body image interventions, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), are largely tested with individuals with normal weight or individuals with eating disorders. Furthermore, cognitive restructuring, one of the key components of CBT for body image (Alleva et al., 2015), relies on the assumption that negative cognitions or appraisals regarding the body are unbalanced or distorted in some way. However, people with higher body weight are 50% more likely to experience major discrimination based on their weight status and thus may possess some “evidence” from lived experience of weight bias that would lend support to their negative body-related thoughts (Puhl & Brownell, 2001; 2006). The use of compassion-focused approaches might be particularly helpful in overcoming these obstacles. Self-compassion refers to the capacity for mindfully reflecting on one’s own perceived flaws, mistakes, or wrongdoings with kindness and with an appreciation for the inherent imperfection in everyone (Neff, 2013). The present study tested the impact of various thinking strategies for managing negative body image in women with higher body weight after getting on the scale, a commonly distressing body image trigger (Ogden & Evans, 1996). Participants (N = 79) were recruited from the community and screened for moderate body dissatisfaction. They were randomly assigned to receive a single training session in cognitive restructuring (CR), self-compassion (SC), or distraction (Control) strategies after being weighed. Participants in all three of the groups reported improvements in body dissatisfaction and negative affect immediately following the training. Relative to those in the Control group, those participants who received training in CR or SC strategies reported greater improvements in body image, body image flexibility, self-compassion, and cognitive distortions one week after the training. These findings suggest that CR and SC strategies may be helpful in improving the distress associated with being weighed among women with higher body weight. The results may have broader implications for the development of psychosocial interventions focused on improving body image among these individuals.

Highlights

  • You are being asked to take part in a research study

  • The current findings provide additional support for the idea that reductions in objectified body surveillance may mitigate the impact that regular weighing has on body dissatisfaction, with the exception that the Control group reported a reduction in body surveillance but not in global negative body image at follow-up

  • The association between negative body image and obesity can become a selfperpetuating cycle, as body dissatisfaction has been linked to various forms of psychopathology, including disordered eating, and has been associated with weight gain over time (Farrell, Shafran, & Lee, 2006; van den Berg & Neumark-Sztainer, 2007)

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Summary

Introduction

You are being asked to take part in a research study. Please read this explanation about the study and its risks and benefits before you decide if you would like to take part. You are being asked to take part in this research study because you have reported having body dissatisfaction and are at a weight that is classified as overweight or obese (Body Mass Index over 25 kg/m2). Body dissatisfaction affects individuals across the weight spectrum; previous research finds that individuals who are overweight or obese are vulnerable to feeling badly about their bodies. In light of the high rates of body dissatisfaction among women and its enduring impact, there is a need to find effective ways to cope with the negative thoughts and emotions associated with body dissatisfaction in individuals who are overweight or obese. The current study will examine how various thinking strategies affect negative thinking patterns and feelings associated with body dissatisfaction in women who are overweight or obese

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