Higher Body Esteem Research Articles

Turn on your self-compassion and turn on the webcam. Self-compassion, self-esteem, body esteem, gender, and discomfort related to using the camera affect students’ activity during synchronous online classes

AbstractDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, many students refused to turn on their webcams during synchronous online classes. Students may intentionally remain invisible to teachers and colleagues for reasons related to their motivation and emotions. However, less is known about the relationships between students’ activity and frequency of turning on the webcam during synchronous online classes and their self-compassion. In our study (N = 450, Polish students aged 18 to 28), we examined the relationship between students’ self-compassion, self-esteem, body esteem, and discomfort when using webcams with their activity and frequency of turning on the webcam during synchronous online classes. We found that men scored higher than women on self-compassion, self-esteem, and body esteem, but lower on discomfort when using the webcam. In both genders, higher self-compassion was associated with higher self-esteem, higher body esteem, higher activity during synchronous online classes, and less discomfort when using the webcam. Moreover, in women, higher self-compassion was linked with more frequent turning on the webcam. We also observed that discomfort when using the webcam and self-esteem mediated relationships between self-compassion and activity and turning on the webcam during synchronous online classes. Our results indicate the importance of improving self-compassion in students during online education.

The relationship among positive body image, body esteem, and eating attitude in Iranian population.

The correlation between eating attitudes, positive body image, and body esteem is a pivotal area of research that has garnered substantial attention in recent years, given its implications for both mental and physical well-being. The objective of this study was to examine the interplay between positive body image, body esteem, and eating attitudes within an Iranian population. This study employed a cross-sectional study design and was conducted in the year 2022. A convenience sample of 752 participants residing in Tehran, Iran, was included in the study. The data collection tools were comprised of a demographic registration form, the Adolescence/Adults Scale (PBIAS), the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT), and the Body Esteem Scale (BES) as measurement instruments. Mean age of participants was 26.36 (SD = 8.49). Significant relationships were found among positive body image (B = - 0.095, β = -0.150, p < 0.001), and body esteem (B = 0.175, β = 0.149, p < 0.001) with eating attitudes. These findings suggest that individuals with positive body image and high body esteem may have healthier eating attitudes, while those with negative body image and low body esteem may be more likely to have unhealthy eating attitudes.

Body Image among Girls in Indonesia: Associations with Disordered Eating Behaviors, Life Engagement, Desire for Cosmetic Surgery and Psychosocial Influences.

Body image is an important risk factor for mental and physical health during adolescence. Nonetheless, few studies have empirically investigated body image among girls in Southeast Asia. This cross-sectional study examined the prevalence of body esteem (a holistic measure of body image assessing the degree of satisfaction with one's appearance, weight, and shape), associated behavioral outcomes, and potential psychosocial influences on body image among Indonesian girls to inform future intervention efforts. Girls across Indonesia with internet access (N = 318, Mage = 13.59 years) completed a questionnaire that assessed body image, disordered eating behaviors, appearance-related life engagement, desire for cosmetic surgery, appearance ideal internalization, media literacy, appearance-related teasing, and self-esteem. The younger girls' (10-13 years) responses were analyzed separately from those of the older girls (14-17 years). Over half of the girls did not have high body esteem. Approximately a quarter of the girls across both age groups reported restricting their food intake, emotionally eating, and/or engaging in excessive exercise, and over half desired cosmetic surgery. Disordered eating behaviors and a desire for cosmetic surgery were negatively correlated with body esteem. Hierarchical regression analyses found BMI, internalization, appearance-related teasing, and self-esteem were uniquely associated with body esteem among younger girls. Appearance-related teasing and self-esteem were positively associated with body esteem among older girls. These findings suggest body image interventions may be important for this population, with appearance-related teasing and self-esteem potentially useful targets for intervention efforts. Further prospective research to investigate these findings would be beneficial for a deeper understanding of body image risk factors for girls across Indonesia.

How Activated Self-Concepts Influence Selection and Processing of Body-Positive Narratives

ABSTRACT Guided by the self- and affect–management (SESAM) model, the current study employed a selective exposure quasi-experimental design in which women (N = 381; Mage = 31.50, SD = 4.89) chose a narrative genre (romance or career) they would like to read, featuring a thin or large character with low or high body esteem, to examine individual differences that influence story selections and subsequent impacts on their self-concepts. Results indicated participants’ salient self-concepts pertaining to romance and career predicted story genre selection. Participants with higher BMI were more inclined to read narratives featuring a large character. Those who read about thin characters with high body esteem reported the highest state appearance esteem. Participants who read about large, high body esteem characters reported more positive affect than those who read about thin, low body esteem characters. Perceived discrepancies between oneself and the character dampened some positive impacts of exposure to high body esteem characters with greater discrepancies resulting in lower state appearance esteem and less positive affect. Implications for self-consistency in media selection and the role of self-discrepancy are discussed.

Sexual minority status and food and alcohol disturbance among college students: The moderating role of body esteem

Food and alcohol disturbance (FAD; restricting caloric intake before, during, or after drinking to either offset calories or to increase intoxication) is common among college students and poses a threat to students' health. In conjunction, sexual minority (SM; i.e., not exclusively heterosexual) college students may be at increased risk of engaging in alcohol misuse and disordered eating compared to their heterosexual peers due to exposure to minority stress. However, little research has examined whether engagement in FAD differs by SM status. Body esteem (BE) is an important resilience factor among SMs that may influence SM students' risk of participating in FAD. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to understand the association between SM status and FAD with additional interest in BE as a moderating factor. Participants were 459 college students who engaged in past 30-day binge drinking. Most participants identified as White (66.7 %), female (78.4 %), heterosexual (69.3 %), with a mean age of 19.60 (SD = 1.54) years. Participants completed two surveys (3 weeks apart) over the course of an academic semester. Analyses revealed a significant interaction between SM status and BE, such that SMs with lower BE (T1) reported more engagement in FAD-intoxication (T2), whereas SMs with higher BE (T1) reported less engagement in FAD-calories (T2) and FAD-intoxication (T2) than their heterosexual peers. Stressors associated with body esteem may contribute to increased FAD engagement among SM students. Consequently, BE may be an especially important target for interventions aimed at reducing FAD among SM college students.

Fast Food and its Effects among the Teenagers in the Municipal of Cachoeiro De Itapemirim-Espirito Santo, Brazil

Fast food is a major part of present life, due to some factors such as the style of life, value and the huge commercial advertisements, it has several effects on teenage health. The basic purpose of this study was to identify the effects of fast food on the health of teenagers of the municipal of Cachoeiro de Itapemirim. The study was based on two theories namely, The Theory of Planned Behaviour proposed by Icek Ajzen in 1991and the Bandura 1969 Social Cognitive Theory. The study was purely quantitative. In this study, a correlational design and simple random sampling were employed. There were 48 responders in the sample size. A self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. The questionnaire was pretested and validated before the final data collection. Extensive literature review was done, and a tool was developed reviewing similar literature, which reports the effects of fast food consumption. Statistical Packages for Social Sciences version 26 (SPSS version 26) were used for quantitative data analysis. The main effects of fast food on the health of teenagers are, obesity, depression, diabetes, heart disease, physical performance and reproductive health. Majority (85.42%) of the respondents have information about fast food, (12.50%) did not have any information about fast food and (2.08%) never responded. The chi-square result on the relationship between fast food and effects was very significant, χ2 ([56], N = [48]) = [49.53], p = [.717]. Fast food was more likely to affect the teenagers. With the p =.717 &gt; .05 the null hypothesis is not rejected. A P-Value &gt;0.05 is not statistically significant. Use of fast food was found to be increasing among teenagers. Consumption of fast food at high level is increasing physical and mental health problems. This study emphasizes strong need to adopt healthy eating behaviours that are associated with lower mental distress, high body esteem and higher psychological well-being.

Promoting body positivity through stories: How protagonist body size and esteem influence readers’ self-concepts

Through two experiments (N = 497), we documented how distinct portrayals of women in stories can impact readers’ engagement in social comparisons and influence important aspects of their self-concepts. Specifically, this research investigated the effects of character body size (thin vs. large), body esteem (low vs. high), and story ending valence (sad vs. happy) with two distinct storylines. Results indicated that high (vs. low) body esteem characters are not only rated more aspirational, but also led readers with greater self-discrepancy to report lower state body image, suggesting upward social comparison processes are at play. Further, results indicated that reading about characters with large (vs. thin) bodies can positively affect readers’ body image; however, this positive effect may be explained by downward social comparison. Findings highlight the complexities of body appearance and confidence. Strategies for effectively promoting body positivity via text-based interventions are discussed.

The Associations between Physical Activity and Body-Esteem in 15-Year-Old Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study from Finland

<strong>Purpose:</strong> Physical activity promotes a positive physical self-image, but less is known about whether the positive effect covers the general self-evaluation of adolescent appearance. This study aimed to further explore the associations between physical activity and body-esteem in Finnish adolescents, via a country-representative cross-sectional study design. <strong>Methods:</strong> The data for the study were drawn from the Finnish component of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study (2014), using surveys from 15-year-old adolescents (n=1956, mean age 15.8 years) from 122 schools. Self-evaluations of body or appearance were measured by the Body-Esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults (BESAA). A mixed effects linear regression analysis for body-esteem was conducted separately for boys and girls. The explanatory variables were (i) self-reported moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), (ii) weight status, (iii) self-esteem, and (iv) socioeconomic status. The covariates used in the models were maturation state and ethnic background. <strong>Results:</strong> The body-esteem score was highest among adolescents who reported engagement in MVPA corresponding to the international recommendation for adolescents’ physical activity. The positive association between MVPA and body-esteem was found even when it was considered in conjunction with other body image-related factors, but only among boys. The variance in MVPA explained 5.0% of the body-esteem variance in the model for boys (Model R² = 26.3%). <strong>Conclusions:</strong> The physical activity of young people should be further promoted for a variety of health reasons, including its positive association with higher body-esteem. However, consideration should be given to gender differences and other factors related in this complex association.

Bullying experiences, body esteem, body dissatisfaction, and the moderating role of weight status among adolescents

IntroductionThe present study examined the relationships between bullying victimization experiences, body esteem (BE), and body dissatisfaction (BD) by obesity status. MethodsUsing a cross-sectional design, adolescents (10-16y) from the U.S. completed surveys. Weight and height were objectively assessed. Bullying was assessed using the Personal Experiences Checklist, with a total score that included three subscales (cyber, verbal-relational, and physical). BE was assessed using total score on the BE Scale, and BD was assessed using the Body Image Assessment for Pre-Adolescents, operationalized as the discrepancy between current and ideal body figure. Linear regression models, controlling for sociodemographics, were used to examine obesity status (with vs. without obesity) and sex as moderators of the relationships between bullying, BE, and BD. ResultsOn average, adolescents (n = 328) were 12.6 ± 1.9 y, 45.4% male, 58.2% White, 35.7% Black, and 36.0% had obesity. Obesity status moderated the relationship between bullying experiences and BE, such that these relationships were only significant (B = −0.38, p<.05) among adolescents with obesity compared to adolescents without obesity. In both groups, greater verbal-relational bullying experiences were associated with lower BE, while greater physical bullying experiences were related to higher BE only among adolescents with obesity. In adolescent girls without obesity, greater cyberbullying experiences were associated with lower BD. ConclusionsThe findings suggest different associations between sub-types of bullying victimization experiences and BE and BD, highlighting the importance of examining these associations separately by obesity status.

Princess Power: Longitudinal Associations Between Engagement With Princess Culture in Preschool and Gender Stereotypical Behavior, Body Esteem, and Hegemonic Masculinity in Early Adolescence.

Princess culture is criticized for contributing to gender stereotypes and poor body esteem, however, there is little longitudinal research examining these claims. This study examines associations between engagement with princess culture during early childhood and gender stereotypes, body esteem, and adherence to hegemonic masculinity in early adolescence. Participants included 307 children (51% female, Mage = 4.83 years, 87% White) who completed questionnaires at two time points, 5 years apart. The results indicated that early engagement with princess culture was not associated with later adherence to female gender stereotypes. However, princess engagement was associated with lower adherence to norms of hegemonic masculinity and higher body esteem. Socioeconomic status and gender moderated the results. Effect sizes were small to moderate. The changing nature of Disney princesses is discussed in the context of gender development across childhood.

Sexual behaviors and function during menopausal transition-does menopausal hormonal therapy play a role?

The menopausal transition is a biological adaptation to the variety of life changes (body, comorbidities, relationship), but that biology is not an "end all" in the context of sexual function and overall sexual health. The aim of this study is to evaluate determinants altering the risk of female sexual dysfunction (FSD) and other sexual problems and to establish whether menopausal hormonal therapy (MHT) decreases that risk and modifies sexual behaviors. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in 210 women between the ages of 45 and 55. Two groups were identified: MHT users (n = 107) and controls-MHT non-users (n = 103). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders -five criteria were used to assess sexual dysfunction. Sexual problems were evaluated by the Changes in Sexual Function Questionnaire (CSFQ), body image by Body Exposure during Sexual Activity Questionnaire, and quality of relationship by the Well-Match Relationship Questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to determine the risk factors for FSD and sexual problems. Women using MHT had higher body esteem during sexual activities, better sexual function (CSFQ) in all domains except desire/interest, better quality of relationship, and lower prevalence of FSD and sexual complaints (CSFQ) except arousal/excitement problems. However, self-rated effects of MHT on sexual behaviors showed that MHT did not play a major role. Women with secondary and higher education (OR = 0.09, CI: 0.02-0.4; P < 0.01 and OR = 0.2, CI: 0.05-1.0; P < 0.05, respectively) and with a higher number of lifetime sexual partners (OR = 0.6, CI: 0.4-0.9; P < 0.01) were less likely to have FSD. In contrast, individuals with more anxious behaviors during sexual activity (OR = 3.2, CI: 1.3-7.3; P < 0.01) and with more severe menopausal symptoms (OR = 1.1, CI: 1.0-1.2; P < 0.001) were more likely to have FSD. Using MHT was not associated with that risk nor with sexual function. In women during menopausal transition, sexual behaviors were different in MHT users compared with non-users. However, in this cross-sectional observational study conducted in 210 women between the ages of 45 to 55 years, using MHT was not associated with modification of sexual function, decreasing the risk of sexual dysfunction, nor sexual problems.

Influence of Media on Body Image for Fitness Center Users

ABSTRACT Mass media influences one’s body esteem, and images seen in the media may lead to unhealthy behaviors to achieve an ideal body. Body esteem may be shaped by one’s ethnicity, gender, and age, as well. Media image and body satisfaction have been investigated in the context of ethnicity, as illustrated by studies comparing Caucasian and African American women. However, research has not looked at the relationship of these issues specifically for an American Indian population. The present study investigated the relationship of media influence and body dissatisfaction (or negative body esteem) for American Indian members of a fitness center in rural, southeastern North Carolina through use of the Body Esteem Scale (BES) and the Sociocultural Attitudes towards Appearance Questionnaire-3 (SATAQ-3). Within this group of participants, gender and age were examined as they relate to body esteem and media influence. Hypothesis testing revealed that men had higher body esteem than women. Additionally, for the sample population there was a weak negative correlation between body esteem and media image.

One size does not fit all: Trajectories of body image development and their predictors in early adolescence.

Background: Negative body image predicts many adverse outcomes. The current study prospectively examined patterns of body esteem development in early adolescence and identified predictors of developmental subtypes. Methods: 328 girls and 429 boys reported annually across a 4-year period (Mage at baseline = 11.14, SD = 0.35) on body esteem, appearance ideal internalization, perceived sociocultural pressures, appearance comparisons, appearance-related teasing, self-esteem, positive and negative affect, and dietary restraint. We performed latent class growth analyses to identify the most common trajectories of body esteem development and examine risk and protective factors for body image development. Results: Three developmental subgroups were identified: (a) high body esteem (39.1%); (b) moderate body esteem (46.1%); and (c) low body esteem (14.8%). Body esteem was stable within the low trajectory and there were minor fluctuations in the high and moderate trajectories. Greater appearance-related teasing, lower self-esteem, less positive affect, and higher dietary restraint predicted the low trajectory, whereas higher self-esteem and lower dietary restraint best predicted the high trajectory. Conclusions: Low body esteem appears to be largely stable from age 11 years. Prevention programming may be enhanced by incorporating components to address transdiagnostic resilience factors such as self-esteem and positive affect.

Feeding Your Faking: Understanding How and When Surface Acting Influences Eating After Work

In the present study, we incorporate the resource replenishment perspective to examine whether service employees’ daily surface acting influences different types of eating behaviors after work via increased need for resource recovery. In addition, we also explore the moderating effects of two personality traits that are closely related to self-regulation in eating behaviors: body-esteem and impulsivity on the surface acting-eating behaviors linkages. Adopting the experience sampling method, we conducted a twice daily, 10-day daily study to capture the daily fluctuations in study variables. In total, 162 service employees participated in our daily survey, resulted in 997 valid matched daily responses. After controlling for alternative mechanism (i.e., coping motive for eating) in our model, the results of multi-level path analyses showed that: (a) for service employees with high body-esteem, their daily surface acting increases healthy eating and reduces unhealthy eating after work via need for resource recovery; (b) for service employees with low body-esteem, daily surface acting increases unhealthy eating after work due to increased need for resource recovery. Theoretical and practical implications for emotional labor and eating behavior literature are discussed.

Sexual Maturation, Attitudes towards Sexual Maturity, and Body Esteem in Elementary-School Children.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate sexual maturation, attitudes toward sexual maturity, and body esteem in the sexual development of Korean elementary-school boys and girls. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 399 fifth and sixth graders (192 boys and 207 girls). The data were analysed with a χ2 test, t-test, and Pearson correlation coefficients. Among the 207 girls, 70.5% had pubic hair growth, 68.1% had breast development, and 56.0% had a menstrual period. In boys, 59.4% of the 192 subjects experienced the development of external genitalia and 52.6% had pubic hair growth. Sexual maturation was related to grade (boys, t=7.07, p=.008; girls, t=12.76, p < .001), age (t=-2.20, p=.030; t=-4.11, p < .001), height (t=-5.16, p < .001; t=-7.52, p < .001), and weight (t=-2.89, p=.004; t=-5.19, p < .001) in both boys and girls. Girls were more likely to have sexual maturity than boys (χ2=22.29, p < .001). Boys showed more positive attitudes toward sexual maturity (t=2.10, p=.036) and higher body esteem (t=2.12, p=.035) than girls. This study shows that sexual maturation, attitude toward sexual maturity, and body esteem in sexual development differ between boys and girls. The findings indicate that it is necessary to develop a tailored sex-education program according to the sex of elementary-school children.

The Body Image of Women at a Homeless Service Center: An Analysis of an Underrepresented, Diverse Group

The primary objective of this research was to explore the unique body image concerns of women receiving services at a day center for individuals experiencing homeless, an understudied population in body image research. The study also explored a number of factors relevant to homelessness that could relate to body image, including access to hygiene products or facilities, inconsistent access to food, sexual victimization, and self-esteem. A sample of 60 women from a nonprofit homeless service center in Boston, MA, were administered a written questionnaire. Results indicated that participants had moderately high body esteem on average across all three subscales of the Body Esteem Scale, and body esteem was positively correlated with self-esteem. A multiple regression analysis revealed that 54% of the variance in body esteem was explained by self-esteem, access to hygiene products, inconsistent access to food, and sexual victimization, as well as race, age, and BMI as covariates. Importantly, both self-esteem and access to hygiene products were significant predictors of body esteem, such that women with higher self-esteem and more access to hygiene products reported higher levels of body esteem. Because this is the first study to examine body image among women who have experienced homelessness, these results may influence the direction of future research on this diverse, underrepresented group of women, as well as inform the work of shelters and other organizations that provide services and resources to women affected by homelessness.

Uses and Gratifications of Selfie photos and its Relationship with Self-Objectification, Self-Esteem and Personality Traits among Adolescents

Background: selfie capture phenomenon is one of recently discussed issues, which attract much of different categories of persons especially adolescents. Previous researches correlated it with narcissistic behaviors and feeling of inadequacy. Aim: to explore the relationship between adolescents’ uses of selfie photos and their self objectification and self esteem levels as well as their personality traits. Methods: A total number of 1432 adolescent students from preparatory (N= 274), secondary (N= 193) and university schools (N= 965) were included in the study, they were recruited from five preparatory schools, seven secondary schools and six faculties from Port-Said city, Egypt. Six previously published questionnaires and scales with approved psychometric properties were used to collect the data of the present study, namely, attitudes towards selfie, self objectification questionnaire, objectified body consciousness scale, body esteem scale, self esteem, and personality traits questionnaire. As well as data related to selfie uses. Results: Uses of selfie was correlated significantly with self objectification, body esteem and different traits of personality. Statistical significant differences were found between male and female students in relation to self objectification, objectified body consciousness, uses and attitudes towards selfie. Statistical significant differences were also observed between preparatory, secondary and university students concerning negative attitudes towards selfie, self objectification and body esteem. Conclusion: selfie could contribute to high self objectification and low body esteem. Moreover, it has been found that girls have higher levels of self objectification and objectified body consciousness. While, concerning boys, they assumed to have more negative attitudes towards selfie with more frequency of posting selfie photos on different social media.

Self-esteem as a mediator between personality traits and body esteem: path analyses across gender and race/ethnicity.

Prior literature examines the direct relationship between personality traits and body esteem. This article explores the possibility that self-esteem mediates this relationship. 165 undergraduate women and 133 men (age 18–21; 42.6% Hispanic, 28.9% Asian, 28.5% Caucasian) completed items measuring personality traits (Big Five), self-esteem, and body esteem. Path analyses were used to test for mediation. The analyses confirmed that in both men and women self-esteem mediated the relationship between three personality traits and body esteem: higher levels of conscientiousness, emotional stability, and extraversion were associated with higher self-esteem and consequently higher body esteem. Once self-esteem was included in the model the relationships between personality traits and body esteem were not significant, suggesting full mediation. In addition, the analyses revealed several racial/ethnic differences. In Asian American participants, self-esteem mediated the relationship between conscientiousness and body esteem and between emotional stability and body esteem. In Hispanic Americans, self-esteem mediated the relationship between conscientiousness and body esteem and between extraversion and body esteem. And in Caucasian Americans, self-esteem mediated the relationship between emotional stability and body esteem and between extraversion and body esteem. The most important contribution of this study is evidence for an indirect relationship between personality traits and body esteem, with this relationship being mediated by self-esteem. This has important implications for the study of personality and eating disorders in young adults, most particularly implying a need for more emphasis on self-esteem as a predictor of body image problems.

Perceived appearance judgments moderate the biological stress effects of social exchanges

Social relationships are generally thought of as beneficial. However, the present study set out to test the hypothesis that for individuals who perceive others to judge their appearance negatively, daily social interactions can also be a source of stress. Indeed when assessing 38 young adults, we found that both more incidences of negative exchanges reported during the past month as well as perceived negative appearance judgments by others were associated with more self-reported stress. Interestingly, however, for individuals with low attribution body esteem, higher numbers of positive social exchanges during the past month were related to health-relevant changes in biological markers of chronic stress as well. The same was true for individuals with high attribution body esteem who reported to experience only very few positive exchanges. As such, these findings go beyond the initial focus on low body esteem and negative social exchanges and introduce high body esteem as well as daily positive exchanges as potential health risk factors.

173. Weight dissatisfaction is associated with low-grade inflammation and self-reported chronic stress for women but not men

Previous research on dissatisfaction with body weight has focused primarily on psychological consequences and the relationship to disordered eating behaviors in females. The present study aimed at examining sex differences in the role of negative feelings about weight on psychological as well as physiological health outcomes. Participants were 25 female and 14 male college students (age: 20.46 ± 2.32 years) with average BMI of 23.22 ± 3.8. Participants self-reported perceived chronic stress and weight-specific body esteem. As a physiological health marker, CRP levels were assessed in dried blood spots. While no sex differences were found for BMI, females had higher CRP levels ( t = 2.14, p = .04) and lower weight body esteem ( t = −2.30, p = .03). Controlling for BMI, women with higher weight dissatisfaction reported more stress while for men, stress levels were independent from feelings about weight (beta = .37, p = .04). While women with more negative feelings about weight had higher CRP levels than those with higher body esteem, there was no relationship for men (beta = .35, p = .066). Findings support the idea that low body esteem, specifically weight dissatisfaction, may be a chronic stressor for females. Weight dissatisfaction was further linked to chronic low-grade inflammation, thus suggesting a mechanism linking current weight concerns to future negative health outcomes. Weight concerns did not contribute to chronic stress or inflammation in men. This may suggest gender differences in the role of body esteem in the development of stress-related disease.