Healthy Body Image Research Articles

Cognitive restraint, emotional eating and uncontrolled eating: Exploring factors associated with the cycle of behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic

The objective of this study was to analyze the factors associated with Cognitive Restraint, Emotional Eating, and Uncontrolled Eating behaviors with perceptions of life habits, body image, eating habits, and food consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sociodemographic data, eating behavior, perceptions about life and eating habits, body image, and food consumption were collected. Factors associated with each of the three eating behaviors were accessed through three multiple linear regressions controlled for age, sex, BMI, education level, and monthly income. Cognitive restraint was associated with being active during the pandemic (β = 5.85), attempted weight loss (β = 11.89), perception of overweight (β = 9.10), better eating habits in the pandemic (β = 6.55), and decreased consumption of refined cereals (β = 5.60) and fast foods (β = 8.23). Emotional eating was associated with increased stress during the pandemic (β = 7.10), worse sleep (β = 4.74), body dissatisfaction (β = 4.85), perception of overweight (β = 7.45), attempted weight loss (β = 4.19), increase in the amount of food consumed (β = 9.34), increased food delivery purchase (β = 5.13), increase in consumption of sweets and desserts (β = 7.17) and reduction in consumption of vegetables (β=- 5.26). Uncontrolled eating was associated with working>8 h/day (β = 4.04), increased stress during the pandemic (β = 3.65), body dissatisfaction (β = 6.59), worse eating habits in the pandemic (β = 5.21), and an increase in the amount of food consumed (β = 8.73). Cognitive restraint behavior was associated with healthy life habits and negative body image variables. In contrast, emotional eating and uncontrolled eating were associated with negative body image and unhealthy eating habits.

The Impact of Cultural Beliefs About Cervical Cancer Screening on Clinical Practice: A Qualitative Study of Asian Indian Women in Texas

Background: Asian Indians, primarily through immigration, are among the three fastest growing Asian minority populations in the United States. Sadly, Asian Indian Women did not meet the Health People 2020’s the 93% cervical cancer screening goal of 93%. Cervical cancer screening rates among Asian Indian Women were 70.5% compared to 82.7% among non-Hispanic Whites. A systematic review revealed the need for qualitative studies to explore influences of cultural beliefs on cervical cancer screening (pap smears) behaviors among Asian Indian Women applying symbolic interactionism theoretical framework. Purpose: To explore the influence of cultural beliefs on cervical cancer screening behaviors among Asian Indian Women. Method: A qualitative descriptive ethnographic design used descriptive ethosemantic semi-structured questions to investigate cultural impact on cervical cancer prevention behaviors among a purposive sample of 15 Asian Indian Women between the ages 21 to 49 years of age. Data analysis used inductive analytical methods. Findings: Five themes influenced cervical cancer screening: locus of control, concept of health, ‘no sex before marriage,’ awareness, and body image. A healthy internal locus of control, sense of being healthy, awareness, and positive body image supported cervical cancer screening behaviors. An external locus of control, belief that health is not a priority, “no sex before marriage,” and low body image were barriers to cervical cancer screening behaviors. Additionally, the concept of “no sex before marriage” influenced timing of the first pap smear. Notwithstanding their cultural beliefs, employment, health insurance, and recommendations from their providers had a positive impact on cervical cancer screening. Conclusion: Findings from this study have implications for both health policy and clinical practice. Health policy influences funding for basic screening and preventive services. Clinical practice implications encompass fostering partnerships within the community to promote prevention programs and cultural sensitivity training for providers. Future community-based participatory research should address interventional studies to increase compliance for cervical cancer screening and prevention behaviors among Asian Indian Women.

Moving to know boundaries: applying dance movement therapy in body privacy training

ABSTRACT Dance movement therapy as a specific form of psychotherapy has its successful applicability in various psycho-social intervention programmes. However, the most common utilisation of this therapy has been observed in the clinical and rehabilitation fields. Its applicability in community mental health training, though not totally overlooked, but not empirically explored as well. The present work tried to bridge this research gap in relation to training and development in children. This study has focused on understanding dance movement therapy’s role in training children with the concept of body privacy, at the same time developing healthy body image, and facilitating communication skills in them. Qualitative techniques were employed for data collection and analysis purpose. The findings were intriguing in terms of evaluating dance movement therapy as a training process to teach children body privacy concept, which can further find its application in school counselling and various other child training and intervention programmes.

Body image is associated with leisure-time physical activity and sedentary behavior in adolescents: data from the Brazilian National School-based Health Survey (PeNSE 2015).

Objective:To evaluate the association of leisure-time physical activity and sedentary behavior with body image concern and satisfaction in Brazilian adolescents.Methods:Data were extracted from the 2015 Brazilian National Adolescent School-based Health Survey (Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde do Escolar [PeNSE]). Information regarding body image concern and satisfaction, as well as exposures (physical activity and sedentary behavior) and covariates (maternal education, age, smoking, and alcohol intake), were assessed through a questionnaire.Results:Logistic regression analysis revealed that engagement in recommended levels of physical activity (≥ 300 min/week) was associated with a decreased concern with body image and a high satisfaction in boys. Four or more hours spent in sedentary activities were associated with increased concern with body image and dissatisfaction among boys and girls.Conclusion:These findings support the relevance of programs aiming to promote physical activity and reduce sedentary behavior in the adolescent population. Such programs play a protective role against body dissatisfaction and are important for the development of a healthy body image in adolescence.

Subjective Perceptions and Their Characteristics of Middle School Students Regarding the Effectiveness of the “0th Period Physical Education Class” in South Korea: The Q Methodology Application

The aim of this study is to explore the subjective perception types and characteristics of Korean middle school students regarding participation in the “0th period physical education class”, a class involving physical movement that takes place before the start of regular school classes in the morning. This goal was achieved by applying the Q methodology, which can categorize the subjective viewpoints of research participants. The selection of the final 25 Q-samples was done by composing the Q-population. Twenty middle school students were selected as the P-sample, and Q-sorting was performed on them. The PQ method program (version 2.35) was used to perform centroid factor analysis and varimax rotation. The study presented five types with a total variance of 87%. Types 1 to 5 (N = 4, 4, 4, 5, and 3) pertained to a potent means of enhancing lesson concentration and academic performance, efficient activities to improve physical ability and a healthy body image in adolescence, the motivating power behind a stable school life and sociability development, building an upright character and successful changes in daily life, and raising awareness of the importance of participating in sports and the importance of physical activity, with eigenvalues (EVs) of 3.89, 4.48, 3.96, 5.16, and 2.58, respectively, and explanatory variances of 0.10, 0.22, 0.13, 0.33, and 0.09, respectively. Moreover, consensus statements for each factor were demonstrated as being Q24 and Q25. The findings in this study supported the academic foundation for the official introduction and activation of “0th period physical education classes” in the Korean education community for the near future.

Effect of a healthy body image intervention on risk- and protective factors for eating disorders: A cluster randomized controlled trial

ObjectiveTo investigate the immediate and 12-months effects of a school-based intervention aiming to reduce risk and enhance protective factors for eating disorder development in high school boys and girls. MethodIn total, 4,149 adolescents from 30 high schools were eligible for inclusion and 2,446 consented to participate and were randomly allocated to the Healthy Body Image (HBI) intervention or a control group (classes as usual). The HBI intervention is multicomponent consisting of three workshops targeting body image, social media usage and lifestyle. Linear mixed model and intention-to-treat analyses were applied to investigate the effects of group, time, and gender at posttest, 3-, and 12-months follow-up. The main outcome variable was eating disorder sympomatology, and secondary outcome variables were self-esteem, mental distress, body image flexibility, thin internalization, muscular internalization, drive for leanness, perceived media pressure, protein- and creatine supplement use, and diet aid use. ResultsThe HBI intervention significantly reduced eating disorder risk factor scores related to eating disorder sympomatology, thin internalization and perceived pressure from media, which was particularly pronounced in girls. Positive intervention effects on body image flexibility were only observed at posttest for boys but grew increasingly larger for girls across the 12-month follow-up time span. Favorable intervention effects on protein and creatine supplement use were only present at 3-months follow-up in boys solely. A general favorable intervention effect was observed for self-esteem, mental distress, muscular internalization, and drive for leanness. ConclusionThe HBI intervention produced consistent reductions in risk factors and enhancements in protective factors associated with eating disorder development in adolescents.

Family treatment needed for eating disorders of youth

When the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released its clinical report “Identification and Management of Eating Disorders in Children and Adolescents” in the Jan. 2021 issue of Pediatrics, most families were preoccupied, as they still are, with COVID‐19. Providers who treat substance use disorder (SUD) are very familiar with the importance of family treatment, and eating disorders, which often cross over as comorbid, are no exception to the rule: involve the whole family. It's important to note that like SUD, eating disorders affect all races and genders. “For too long, eating disorders were considered a disease that afflicted mostly affluent white teenage girls,” said Laurie L. Hornberger, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.A.P., lead author of the report, written by the AAP Committee on Adolescence. “We know today that girls and boys of all ages, income levels and racial and ethnic groups may be struggling with eating disorders,” she said. “Our hope is to help counter the stigma they may experience and provide an environment for open nonjudgmental conversations.” Anorexia is a life‐threatening condition, and one of its signs is the inability to acknowledge the problem and its seriousness. One of the most promising approaches to treatment is a method that puts parents in charge of refeeding their child, with education, therapy, and support provided by a specially trained team. Some teenagers stuff themselves with food and then force themselves to vomit. Called “bingeing and purging,” the practice, if it continues for 3 months, results in a diagnosis of bulimia. But again, it's not simple. About half of all anorexics have episodes of bulimia at some time. Just like the young person who starves him or herself and wants to be thin, “the bulimic is dissatisfied with [his or her] body and obsessed with slimming down,” according to the AAP. The condition is accompanied by guilt and shame. Some girls take laxatives. They often have binges in secret. Like bulimia nervosa, people who are binge eaters consume enormous quantities of food in a short amount of time, then regret having done so. However, unlike bulimics, they do not purge themselves afterward, or fast, or exercise, or attempt in any way to compensate for the thousands of calories they've just ingested. This is why one in three teens who seek treatment for their weight are compulsive overeaters. Family‐based treatment (FBT) has emerged as the first‐line treatment for pediatric eating disorders, according to the AAP. It's effective and removes the guilt and shame which are so destructive in and of themselves. “Rather than dwelling on possible causes of the eating disorder, FBT is focused on recovery from the disease,” according to the AAP. An adaption of FBT is parent‐focused therapy, in which the clinician meets only with the parents. The patient has brief visits with a nurse for weight and acute mental health assessment but does not see the therapist. For all forms of eating disorders, families should not let shame intrude. Giving the child “agency” while at the same time making sure he or she is nutritionally safe is the parents' role. But even in the absence of a clinical diagnosis, it's a good idea to establish healthy habits rather than to focus on weight and dieting, according to the AAP. In a child who is developing or has an eating disorder, recommendations include more frequent family meals, discouraging weight talk in the home, closely monitoring weight loss in patients who are advised to lose weight, and promoting a healthy body image. This is reminiscent of much treatment for SUDs, in which focusing on the substance itself results in shame and does not reduce consumption or result in recovery. For the AAP report, go to Identification and Management of Eating Disorders in Children and Adolescents.

Socioeconomic Inequalities and Obesity in South Africa-A Decomposition Analysis.

Background: Prior evidence shows that inequalities are related to overweight and obesity in South Africa. Using data from a recent national study, we examine the socioeconomic inequalities associated with obesity in South Africa and the factors associated with it. Methods: We use quantitative data from the South African National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (SANHANES-1) carried out in 2012. We estimate the concentration index (CI) to identify inequalities and decompose the CI to explore the determinants of these inequalities. Results: We confirm the existence of pro-rich inequalities associated with obesity in South Africa. The inequalities among males are larger (CI of 0.16) than among women (CI of 0.09), though more women are obese than men. Marriage increases the risk of obesity for women and men, while smoking decreases the risk of obesity among men significantly. Higher education is associated with lower inequalities among females. Conclusions: We recommend policies to focus on promoting a healthy lifestyle, including the individual’s perception of a healthy body size and image, especially among women.

Body Image Perceptions and Body Image Dissatisfaction among Medical Students in Oman.

ObjectivesThis study aimed to examine body image perceptions and body image dissatisfaction and their relationship with body mass index (BMI) among medical students in Oman.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted among students of the College of Medicine and Health Sciences, National University of Science and Technology, Sohar, Oman, between September and December 2019. The data (including self-reported weight and height) were collected through a questionnaire-based survey. Body image perception and satisfaction were assessed using the Stunkard Figure Rating Scale.ResultsA total of 351 medical students (response rate: 70.2%) participated in the study with a mean age of 21.6 ± 2.2 years and a mean BMI of 22.7 ± 4.3 kg/m2. Most students were within normal ranges of BMI (63%), 12% were underweight and 25% overweight/obese. Approximately, 66% of students perceived their body image correctly; students at both BMI extremes were more accurate about their body image perceptions. Body image dissatisfaction was high (80%) among the respondents with 73.5% of those dissatisfied desiring to be thinner. The association between self-reported BMI with perceived BMI and body image dissatisfaction was significant (P <0.001). Only 18.2% of students felt ‘attractive’. The association between body image perception and body image dissatisfaction was statistically significant (P <0.05).ConclusionA high degree of body image dissatisfaction and incorrect body image perceptions exists among medical students. There is an increased desire to be thinner and the majority of this study’s participants feel unattractive. There is a need to foster healthy body image perceptions among students of health sciences as they are the future in healthcare and can influence the health beliefs in our society.

Deweyan Progressive Education within Ontario Elementary Health and Physical Education

The objective is to explore Deweyan Progressive Education within Ontario Health and Physical Education. The need to review this area was instigated within the last two years as the Ontario provincial government in Canada has implemented new 2019 Ontario Health and Physical Education curricular guide which contains significant modernizations. The document established a concern for mental health development, online safety, bullying prevention, road safety, substance abuse, concussions, and healthy body image within the 250-page document. The authors undertook a latent content analysis revealing a challenge to compress this curricular content into Health and Physical Education classes that are infrequently scheduled. Teachers, it is understood, will learn that students need progressive instruction and constructive feedback as they practise, reflect, and learn experientially in a safe environment. This review supports educators as they work to better understand the term progressive education and its current pertinence.&#x0D; Keywords: Dewey, philosophy, progressivism, health instruction, physical education

Social media use impacts body image and eating behavior in pregnant women

Social media (SM) use may have detrimental effects on the physical and mental wellbeing of young adults, including body image dissatisfaction (BID) and changes in dietary behavior. This issue may be of particular concern in pregnant women since adequate dietary behavior is essential during pregnancy for the health of the mother and fetus. The present study aimed to investigate how SM use and posting as well as dependence on technological devices relate to body image and dietary behavior in pregnant women. A descriptive, cross-sectional design was used. A sample of 192 Lebanese pregnant women (29.6 ± 6.2 years old) completed a self-report questionnaire assessing the aforementioned variables. SM usage and posting were both associated with healthy eating behaviors (p = 0.049 and p = 0.03 respectively). On the other hand, SM posting was associated with higher negative body image scores (p = 0.04), postnatal image concerns (p = 0.02), as well as competitiveness with regard to the pregnant body (p = 0.02). Also, dependence on technological devices and internet was associated with higher negative body image scores (p < 0.001), postnatal image concerns (p < 0.001) and increased anxiousness towards the pregnant body (p = 0.02). While SM use and posting are associated with healthy eating behaviors, SM posting and dependence on technological devices are also associated with increased appearance comparison and BID in pregnant women. The present study adds to the growing evidence supporting a significant impact of SM use on physical and mental wellbeing, emphasizing potential deleterious effects during pregnancy. Practical implications are discussed in terms of media literacy interventions and recommendations for healthcare team members to improve maternal counselling and support by encouraging healthy body image, diet and lifestyle behaviors during pregnancy.

Weight control intentions and mental health among Canadian adolescents: a gender-based analysis of students in the COMPASS study.

Little is known about gender differences in associations between weight control intentions and mental health in adolescents. Our objective was to examine these associations in a large sample of adolescent girls and boys. Using data from Year 6 (2017-18) of the COMPASS study (n = 57 324), we performed a series of multivariable linear regressions to examine whether weight control intentions (gain, lose, stay the same, no intention) were associated with depression, anxiety and self-concept, while adjusting for relevant covariates including body mass index. Models were stratified by self-reported gender. Compared to those with no intentions, girls who intended to lose weight reported higher symptoms of depression (B = 0.52, p < 0.001) and anxiety (B = 0.41, p < 0.001) and poorer self-concept (B = 2.06, p < 0.001). Girls who intended to gain weight also reported higher symptoms of depression (B = 0.54, p < 0.001), anxiety (B = 0.50, p < 0.001) and self-concept (B = 1.25, p < 0.001). Boys who intended to lose weight reported greater symptoms of depression (B = 0.26, p < 0.001) and anxiety (B = 0.33, p < 0.001) and poor self-concept (B = 1.10, p < 0.001). In boys, weight-gain intentions were associated with greater symptoms of anxiety (B = 0.17, p < 0.05), but not depression or self-concept. Intentions to gain or lose weight were associated with symptoms of mental disorder and poor self-concept in our large sample of adolescents, and these relationships differed in boys and girls. These findings have important implications for school-based programs promoting healthy weight and body image.

A qualitative investigation of Orthorexia Nervosa among U.S. college students: Characteristics and sociocultural influences

BackgroundCurrent studies on Orthorexia Nervosa (ON) are predominantly correlational and have largely been conducted outside of the U.S. with little attention to cultural aspects. This study aimed to qualitatively examine ON-related attitudes and behaviors among U.S. college students, with a particular focus on exploring concerns related to healthy eating and diet quality as defined by proposed diagnostic criteria, body image concerns and disordered eating, and sociocultural influences. MethodEighteen women and 3 men, aged 18–23 years (M = 19.5, SD = 1.6), who had reported high levels of ON symptoms participated in individual interviews. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and examined for evidence of the proposed diagnostic criteria of ON. In addition, thematic analysis was conducted to examine concurrent body image and eating concerns, as well as sociocultural influences. ResultsThe patterns of the presence of diagnostic criteria varied, with the importance of food quality, and associated severely restricted eating patterns emerging as some of the most common elements. Six themes emerged from the thematic analysis: healthy eating concerns and diet quality, frequency and nature of food-related thoughts, definitions of healthy eating and healthy foods, disordered eating and body image, interpersonal social influence, and media and other influence from the broader social context. DiscussionThe findings suggest that ON symptoms may be concurrent with, or an evolution of other eating disorder presentations. In addition, our results highlight the role of family and sociocultural factors in ON, pointing to the usefulness of examining these behaviors within sociocultural frameworks that have been successfully applied to other types of disordered eating.

Overweight and obesity are associated with increased eating disorder correlates and general psychopathology in university women with eating disorders

ObjectiveExamine how eating disorder (ED) correlates, ED-related clinical impairment, general psychopathology, and ED diagnoses differ across weight statuses in a sample of university women with EDs. MethodParticipants were 690 women from 28 U.S. universities who screened positive for an ED (with the exception of anorexia nervosa [AN]) and participated in the Healthy Body Image Program study. ED correlates, ED-related clinical impairment, general psychopathology (i.e., depression and anxiety), and ED diagnoses were compared across weight statuses (i.e., healthy weight, overweight, obesity) using analyses of variance and chi-square tests. ResultsWomen with EDs and overweight or obesity had higher levels of, perceived benefit of thinness, depressive symptoms, anxiety, and weight/shape concerns (obesity only) than those with healthy weight (ps ≤ .017). Compared to those with healthy weight, those with obesity had higher rates of clinical and sub-clinical binge eating disorder and lower rates of bulimia nervosa (p < .001). DiscussionOverweight and obesity in individuals with EDs, excluding AN, are associated with greater severity of ED correlates, ED-related clinical impairment, and co-morbid general psychopathology. The current study highlights the need to consider weight status in ED treatment and for optimization of ED treatments to address shared risk factors between EDs and overweight and obesity.

The Meaning and Factors That Influence the Concept of Body Image: Systematic Review and Meta-Ethnography from the Perspectives of Adolescents

Community care nurses educate adolescents about body image, but their interventions appear to be ineffective. Body dissatisfaction predicts unhealthy behaviors among adolescents. This study aimed to understand the meanings and factors that influence the concept of body image through a systematic review and meta-ethnography of qualitative studies from the perspective of adolescents. Ten studies published from 2009–2019 were identified by a search of relevant systematic databases between September and December 2019. The review followed the seven steps of meta-ethnography developed by Noblit and Hare, including a line-of-argument. The synthesis revealed six themes: self-perception of body image; opinions of friends and colleagues; opinions of family; specific features of the school environment; expectations perceived across the mass-media; and strategies, practices, and self-management of body image. An explanatory model was developed that showed adolescents’ development of body image and the path towards its establishment. In conclusion, these results should be considered to implement strategies to promote a healthy body image in adolescents by community health and mental health nurses.

Relationship between body image, anxiety, food-specific inhibitory control, and emotional eating in young women with abdominal obesity: a comparative cross-sectional study

BackgroundAbdominal fat deposition is a key component of obesity, which is associated with an increased risk for a number of mental disorders. The current study aims to explore the relationship between body image, anxiety, food-specific inhibitory control, and emotional eating in young women with abdominal obesity.MethodA total of 224 participants were recruited: 168 were non-abdominal obesity and 56 were abdominal obesity. Participants completed the following questionnaires and behavioral tests: the Body Mass Index (BMI) -based Silhouette-Matching Test (SMT), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Food Stop Signal Task (SST), the Emotional Eating Scale (EES).ResultsAbdominal obesity women had significantly higher levels of trait anxiety, cognitive difference, expectational difference in body image but lower self-reported emotional eating level compared to the control group. Anxiety mediated the relationship between cognitive difference of body image and depression eating in young females with abdominal obesity. In addition, only among abdominal obesity individuals, expectational difference of body image were significantly and positively correlated with food-specific inhibitory control and trait/state anxiety.ConclusionThe findings suggest it is of critical importance to promote a healthy body image recognition and expectation and improve mood regulation for young females with abdominal obesity high in trait anxiety.

КОНЦЕПТУАЛИЗАЦИЯ ПОНЯТИЯ «ПОЗИТИВНЫЙ ОБРАЗ ТЕЛА» В СОВРЕМЕННЫХ ЗАРУБЕЖНЫХ ИССЛЕДОВАНИЯХ

Positive body image is a construct that has actively been formed in the last two decades. Its appearance in the psychological discourse was a kind of response to the spreading of the practice of studying the body image from the point of view of pathology in the context of clinical studies of the second half of the XX century. Currently, the world has accumulated some experience in studying a positive body image, which is especially relevant in the pandemic era. The paper analyzes contemporary foreign publications considering a positive body image published in English-language journals on developmental, clinical, and social psychology from 2001 to 2021. The research allows monitoring the transformation of the studied construct in the context of humanistic and positive psychology that considers the body image both through the concept of appearance and through such definition as body functionality. The emphasis on the functionality within the analysis of the embodiment problematics allowed shifting the focus of the psychologists’ attention from the strategies of object attitude to a body to the strategies of taking care of a body as a value. The authors highlight the key areas of studying a positive body image at the current stage of development of science: the characteristics of a structure and components of the phenomenon under the study; the search for the sociocultural, family, and individual-psychological factors influencing the formation of positive body image; the assessment of the efficiency of prevention and correction programs aimed at the promotion of healthy body image; the analysis of positive body image as a recourse of a personality in the pandemic epoch.

Eating disorder diagnosis and the female athlete: A longitudinal analysis from college sport to retirement

ObjectivesFemale athletes experience eating disorders (EDs) at clinical, and subclinical, levels; most studies have determined point-prevalence rates through cross-sectional methodologies. To date, few studies have examined the long-term stability of EDs in female athletes; none extend into retirement. DesignA longitudinal investigation of ED classification (i.e., Clinical ED, Subclinical ED, Healthy) and weight control behaviors (e.g., vomiting, laxative use) from when athletes actively competed (T1) into their retirement (T2). MethodsParticipants included U.S. female athletes (N=193) who were collegiate competitors (T1) and eventually were retired from their collegiate sports six years later (T2). ResultsAt T2, athletes were classified as Healthy (69.9%), Subclinical ED (26.9%), and Clinical ED (3.1%). Overall percentage of Subclinical EDs increased from 18.7% (T1) to 26.9% (T2); 52.8% of T1 Subclinical ED athletes continued to meet criteria for either Subclinical or Clinical ED at T2. Of the 13 Clinical ED athletes at T1, six (46.2%) continued to meet criteria for either a subclinical or clinical ED at T2. Though exercising (2+ hours/day; n=8, 4.1%) and dieting/fasting (4+ times/year; n=14, 7.3%) were the most frequently used weight control behaviors at T2, rates were substantially lower than at T1. ConclusionsRetirement does not result in immediate remittance of eating concerns among female athletes; many continue or develop Subclinical and Clinical ED symptoms. Thus, addressing healthy body image and nutrition when athletes are competing is imperative to assist prevention and intervention efforts that may alleviate ED symptoms as athletes transition from sport.

The Norwegian healthy body image intervention promotes positive embodiment through improved self-esteem

We examined both direct and indirect effects of the Healthy Body Image (HBI) intervention on positive embodiment among Norwegian high school students. In total, 2446 12th grade boys (43 %) and girls (mean age 16.8 years) from 30 schools participated in a cluster-randomized controlled study with the HBI intervention and a control condition as the study arms. We tested mediation models using path analysis and found that among several hypothesized mediators, only self-esteem mediated a positive intervention effect on positive embodiment for both boys and girls. A direct effect of the intervention on positive embodiment was only found in girls. The study provides novel findings indicating that health promotion interventions to address a positive embodiment should focus on enhancing adolescent’s self-esteem. Serial mediation modeling might reveal more complex explanations of change mechanisms and could further evolve current knowledge.

Protocol for economic evaluation alongside the SHINE (Supporting Healthy Image, Nutrition and Exercise) cluster randomised controlled trial

IntroductionLimited evidence exists on the cost-effectiveness of interventions to prevent obesity and promote healthy body image in adolescents. The SHINE (Supporting Healthy Image, Nutrition and Exercise) study is a cluster...