Importance Of Body Image Research Articles

The importance of body image concerns in overweight and normal weight individuals with binge eating disorder

Body image concerns in binge eating disorder (BED) have been examined almost exclusively in overweight individuals with BED. The current study extends past research by including overweight and normal weight BED and non-BED groups to assess the multifactorial construct of body image using subscales of the Eating Disorder Examination 16.0 (EDE-16.0) and a Body Comparison Task. Independent of weight status and when controlling for age and race, women with BED are distinguished from those without BED by significantly greater overvaluation of shape and weight on the EDE-16.0 and significantly reduced weight satisfaction after a Body Comparison Task. Both BED diagnosis and weight status were independently associated with Weight Concern and Shape Concern subscales on the EDE-16.0. Taken together, these data provide further support for the consideration of body image concerns in the diagnostic criteria for BED.

Segmenting female consumers: high-involvement personal services

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to measure attitudes towards cosmetic surgery services among women and to determine the potential segments of women according to their attitudes towards cosmetic surgery services and discover the main differences among them.Design/methodology/approachThe research was implemented on a sample of 258 women in Slovenia. A quota sample was chosen for this research following the age characteristics of the Slovenian female population. The data collection method used was personal interviews. Convergent validity for the attitudes towards cosmetic surgery services was assessed with exploratory factor analysis. The segmentation analysis procedure was implemented in two phases. First, hierarchical clustering with Ward’s method was deployed, and in the second step K-means cluster analysis was used.FindingsThe results show that four clusters were clearly distinctive according to three dimensions, namely, intrapersonal, social and consider component. In further analysis, four segments of women were analysed regarding the fear of ageing, the importance of appearance, body image and self-esteem. Results show that all four segments are unique and distinguish one from another.Practical implicationsThrough segmentation analysis, authors of this study indicate two segments (target groups) that are possibly interesting for providers of cosmetic services. Marketing communication activities should mainly be focussed on the woman’s appearance.Originality/valueBased on a theoretical hypothesis and use a quantitative method, the aim of this paper is to provide a deeper analysis and understanding of attitudes and views of different woman profile regarding cosmetic surgeries. It presents a more structured view on differences that exist among segments of female consumers while also adding new insights into the factors that influence attitudes towards cosmetic procedures.

Sexual life after weight loss surgery

BackgroundPrevious research revealed a relationship between higher body mass index (BMI) and lower sexual functioning. However, the role of psychosocial variables, such as body image, in this relationship has been understudied. ObjectiveTo assess sexual life before and after weight loss surgery (WLS) and examine the role of body image and BMI in these changes. SettingWLS center at a major urban community hospital. Methods327 participants (275 women and 52 men) who underwent either laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery (n = 225) or laparoscopic adjustable gastric band (n = 102) were assessed on measures of sexual life preoperatively and at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after surgery. The number of completers were n = 126 at 1-month follow-up, n = 84 at 3 months, n = 86 at 6 months, n = 84 at 12 months, and n = 55 at 24 months. ResultsThere was a significant increase in quality of sexual life over time, F(5,479.5) = 24.3, P<.001. Greater body image dissatisfaction predicted lower quality of sexual life when controlling for BMI, F(1,580.3) = 36.9, P<.001, but BMI did not predict quality of sexual life when controlling for body dissatisfaction, F(1,566.6)<.01, P = .94. A mediation analysis revealed that the relationship BMI had with sexual life was through its influence on body dissatisfaction. ConclusionParticipants experienced improvements in quality of sexual life over time after WLS, and decrease in body image dissatisfaction was the strongest predictor of these improvements. These results underscore the importance of body image, independent of weight loss, in postsurgical sexual life.

Body Image in Dyadic and Solitary Sexual Desire: The Role of Encoding Style and Distracting Thoughts

This study explored the link between body image and desire to engage in sexual activity (dyadic and solitary desire) in adult women living in a long-term couple relationship. Moreover, it considered two psychological factors that may underlie such a link: the occurrence of body-related distracting thoughts during sexual activity and encoding style (i.e., the tendency to rely on preexisting internal schemata versus external information at encoding). A total of 53 women (29 to 47 years old) in heterosexual relationships completed questionnaires assessing sexual desire (dyadic, solitary), body image, body-related distracting thoughts during sexual activity, and encoding style. Results showed that poor body image was associated with low dyadic and solitary sexual desire. Body-related distracting thoughts during sexual activity mediated the link between body image and solitary (but not dyadic) sexual desire. Finally, the mediation of body-related distracting thoughts between body image and solitary sexual desire was moderated by encoding style. A negative body image promoted the occurrence of body-related distracting thoughts during sexual activity, especially in internal encoders. Our study highlights the importance of body image, distracting thoughts, and encoding style in women’s solitary sexuality and suggests possible factors that may reduce the impact of those body-related factors in dyadic sexual desire.

Gendered pathways to romantic attachment in emerging adults: The role of body image and parental support

This study analyses the impact of body image and perceived parental behaviour (support and negativity) as factors that contribute to romantic attachment in emerging adulthood. In a 11-year longitudinal study on 144 females and 114 males, we assessed body image, body mass index, and perceived father's and mother's support and negativity during adolescence (at ages 14 and 17) and in emerging adulthood (age 21). At the age of 25, romantic attachment was assessed. Results of path analyses revealed that females' positive body image was consistently linked with greater parental support over time and contributed to low avoidance in romance at the age of 25, whereas perceived negativity with fathers mediated by body image contributed to more avoidance in females' later romantic relationships. In contrast, parental support and negativity during adolescence and young adulthood had no impact; only a positive body image resulted in males' low avoidance in later romantic attachment at the age of 25. The findings point to gendered socialization for males and females and highlight the importance of body image for an adaptive romantic outcome in emerging adulthood.

Análise do sistema de controle interno no Brasil: objetivos, importância e barreiras para sua implantação

Part on the assumption that the internal control is important in the context of publicorganizations and has aimed to carry out a review of its purposes and importance in publicadministration in Brazil and the barriers to its implementation. The search strategy developedis a systematic literature review and conducting documentary research reports on TCU andCGU. Identified a set of eleven goals for performance of SCI. The results also point to acategorization of the importance of SCI in the context of the sector and the main barriers to itsimplementation. A theoretical framework of five categories of importance of SCI wasestablished risk management, information, ethical behavior, body image and protect publicresources. The main barriers identified were the lack of a culture of risk management, theshortage of personnel in adequate numbers and with the required technical quality.

Relationship between body dissatisfaction and disordered eating: Mediating role of self-esteem and depression

The purpose of this study was to investigate the hypothesis that the effect of body dissatisfaction on disordered eating behavior is mediated through self-esteem and depression. If the effect of body dissatisfaction on disordered eating can be explained by self-esteem and depression, treatment may benefit from focusing more on self-esteem and depression than body dissatisfaction. We also hypothesized body image importance to be associated with lower self-esteem, stronger symptoms of depression, and more disordered eating. The results showed that the effect of body dissatisfaction on disorder eating was completely mediated, whereas the effect of body image importance was partly mediated. Both self-esteem and depression were significant mediators. Body image importance and self-esteem had a direct effect on restrained eating and compensatory behavior. Depression had a direct effect on binge eating. This effect was significantly stronger among women. Depression also had a direct effect on restrained eating. This effect was positive among women, but negative among men. The results support emotion regulation and cognitive behavioral theories of eating disorders, indicating that self-esteem and depression are the most proximal factors, whereas the effect of body dissatisfaction is indirect. The results point out the importance of distinguishing between different symptoms of bulimia. Depression may cause binge eating, but compensatory behavior depends on self-esteem and body image importance. The results suggest that women may turn to both binge eating and restrained eating to escape awareness of negative emotions, whereas men focus on eating to a lesser extent than women. Existing treatment focuses on eating behavior first and mechanisms such as self-esteem and depression second. The results from this study suggest that an earlier focus on self-esteem and depression may be warranted in the treatment of disordered eating.

Body image concerns, muscle-enhancing behaviors, and eating disorders in males.

Body image concerns among adolescents and young adults are prevalent; almost half of adolescent girls report being dissatisfied with theway their bodies look.1 Body dissatisfaction can have serious adverse consequences, including disordered eating behaviors, eatingdisorders, andobesity. Longitudinal studieshave shown that body dissatisfaction does not motivate young people to engage in healthier eating and physical activity behaviors.2 Body dissatisfactionhasbeenfoundtobeassociatedwitha lower likelihoodofhealthpromoting behaviors such as physical activity and eating fruits and vegetables.2Becausebodydissatisfactiondoesnotmotivateyoung people to engage in health-promoting behaviors, it is important to helpyoungpeople feelbetter about theirbodies topromoteasense of positive well-being and healthier behaviors. Most research on body dissatisfaction emphasizes weight and shape dissatisfaction (eg, wanting to be thinner) in female populations. More recently realized is the importance of body image in adolescent males and the relevance of muscularity for both adolescent males and females.3-5 In a study of 5527 adolescent boys aged 12 to 18 years published in JAMA Pediatrics, Field and colleagues6 showed that adolescent boys have concerns aboutmuscularity and engage in muscle-enhancing behaviors: 17.9% were highly concerned, including 2.4% who used products to enhance muscularity at some point in the 1999-2011 study period. Muscle-enhancing behaviors, and to a lesser extent, muscle-related concerns, were found to longitudinally predict the onset of binge drinking and drug use. Given these findings, clinicians should address muscularity JAMAPEDIATRICS

Psychological Health and Aims of Aesthetic Surgery Seekers

The psychological health of people who elect to surgically alter the embodied self is often questioned. This study examines characteristics and goals of 546 people who elect aesthetic surgery compared with 264 people who are interested in it and 1,135 population comparisons. Assessments included demographics, attractiveness, body image importance, depression, social phobia, joy, general health, life satisfaction, and open-ended and standard goals. Surgery and interested groups were more likely than the population to be female and younger, have lower income and lower body mass index, and have higher body image importance. The surgery group reported lower general attractiveness, life satisfaction, and joy, but also lower depression and higher overall health than the general population. There were no differences in social phobia. Overall, people obtaining and interested in cosmetic surgery appeared generally psychologically healthy. The most frequent goal was to “feel better about/in one’s own body.” Overtly social or unrealistic goals were uncommon.

The importance of body image in the speech content of burn survivors

The importance of body image in the speech content of burn survivors

Body image struggles and breast cancer care: an under-recognized and undertreated issue with important implications for all patients

SUMMARY Body image encompasses the relationship between perceptions, cognitions, behaviors and emotions regarding the body and its functions. Breast cancer treatment can have a profound impact on body image, with body image issues occurring throughout diagnosis, treatment and survivorship. Despite this, a potential disconnect exists between breast cancer care providers and patients with respect to understanding and addressing body image difficulties. This article provides an overview of body image issues related to breast cancer treatment and offers recommendations that will enable healthcare providers to assist patients who are struggling with body image issues. More emphasis must be placed on the importance of body image as a means of improving the quality of care for all breast cancer patients.

Quality of life and anxiety in Turkish patients with anorectal malformation

The aim of this study was to investigate quality of life (QoL) and anxiety level in Turkish children with anorectal malformation as well as the anxiety level of their mothers and the support group effects on anxiety. A total of 87 children and their parents were included. They were grouped according to children's age: <8 years (group 1), 8-12 years (group 2) and >12 years (group 3). The anxiety of all mothers and of children in group 3 was assessed by Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Index-2. The QoL of children in groups 2 and 3 was evaluated with the Ped-QL 4.0 test by self-report and proxy report. The QoL results in groups 2 and 3 were compared with age-matched controls. Mothers in groups 1 and 3 were more anxious than were those in group 2. Adolescents in group 3 had poorer QoL compared with controls by self- and proxy reports. A significant difference was observed in QoL between the children who did and those who did not soil. The anxiety level was significantly lower in parents who attended more than one meeting. High anxiety and poor QoL levels in adolescence may have been related to the growing importance of body image. The higher anxiety levels of mothers in group 1 could be explained by an encounter with a baby who was different from the imagined baby and the newness of illness. QoL may have been perceived as being worse than what it was for psychological reasons.

Group Psychotherapy in Schizophrenia with Obesity and Eating Disorders: A Pilot Study

CME Educational Objectives 1. Develop individualized treatment methods for patients with metabolic illness and schizophrenia. 2. Anticipate the importance of body image, body weight and self-esteem in patients with stabilized schizophrenia. 3. Incorporate psychotherapy in treatment regimens. Despite an abundance of data on metabolic illnesses in patients with schizophrenia, their management is relatively less studied. In the few treatment studies, the goal is even less clear. Are we aiming to reduce weight? Why? Or are we aiming to reduce morbidities associated with obesity and, ultimately, cardiovascular mortality? If it is the latter, then weight is just one surrogate marker. We still do not know what weight is a surrogate of in patients with schizophrenia.

A longitudinal investigation of the mediating role of self-esteem and body importance in the relationship between stress and body dissatisfaction in adolescent females and males

Body dissatisfaction is particularly prevalent during adolescence and has recently been linked to stress in females and males. However, prospective studies are needed to better understand the relationship between stress and body dissatisfaction. The present study investigates the direction of this association and the mediating role of self-esteem and body image importance. A sample of 298 adolescent females and males in Grades 7 to 10 (ages 12 to 17 years) were surveyed at two time points over a one-year period. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that stress significantly predicted body dissatisfaction one year later. Furthermore, a multiple mediation analysis controlling for gender revealed a significant indirect effect in both cross-sectional and longitudinal models, indicating that stress predicts reductions in self-esteem and increases in body importance, which in turn predict body dissatisfaction. These findings suggest that stress, self-esteem, and body importance should be included in programmes aimed at improving body dissatisfaction.

Toward Understanding Body Image Importance: Individual Differences in a Canadian Sample of Undergraduate Students

This study examined the relationships between body image importance (BII) and perfectionism and body satisfaction in a Canadian sample of undergraduate students. Specifically, perfectionism was conceptualized as a common cause of BII and body satisfaction. Furthermore, gender-schematic processing was examined as a moderator of sex differences in BII, which have been inconsistently found. As hypothesized, there was no significant partial correlation between BII and body satisfaction, controlling for perfectionism. Also, a significant Sex × Gender Schematicity interaction indicated that gender schematicity moderates sex differences in BII. Implications for understanding individual differences in, and elevated levels of BII are discussed.

Increased salivation to mirror exposure in women with binge eating disorder

Although body image disturbances are not a diagnostic criterion of the binge eating disorder (BED), intervention studies yield evidence of its importance in the maintenance of the disorder. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to experimentally test the influence of body-related schemata in the occurrence of appetite in individuals with BED. After collecting baseline saliva, women with BED and weight matched controls (CG) were either given a food exposure (FE) or mirror exposure (ME), while participants’ salivary reaction was assessed once more. In addition, participants repeatedly rated their actual desire to binge (DTB) and emotions. Main results reveal a significant salivation and DTB increase in the FE compared to the baseline condition in both groups. However, only in BED participants salivation and DTB increase were significantly higher in the ME compared to the baseline condition. The results support the importance of body image for the maintenance of BED.

A IMPORTÂNCIA DA IMAGEM CORPORAL NA ASSIMETRIA DA POSTURA EM PACIENTES HEMIPLÉGICOS E HEMIPARÉTICOS

The hemiplegy/hemiparetic is one of the consequence in cerebral vascular accident (CVA), where currently 90% of survivors develop some form of disability. Among the disabling signs it is detached the perceptual dysfunction and the trend to remain in a position of postural imbalance with distribution of less weight on the affected side. To this issue since the goal study was to analyze the importance of body image in postural imbalances in patients with hemiplegia / hemiparesis using the Test Askevold that allows an analysis of body image and Software Fisiometer of Posturograma version 2.9 which has the main objective of the research deviations postural thereby facilitating the detection of asymmetries. The findings indicated changes in perception body across the sample, and the majority in hemicorpo victim by the AVC. On the postural imbalance, it was observed that all patients tested had some kind of asymmetry. Some points of the body image did not show correlation with the postural imbalances. The results of this study reinforces previous findings, revealed that the presence of asymmetries is a typical characteristic of hemiplegia / hemiparesis, and the perception of body image is coadjuvante a good body symmetry.

Body Image and Subjective Well-Being in Portuguese Adolescents

The study examines the impact of body image in adolescents' well-being. Well-being was assessed with the scale Kidscreen10, with the Cantril ladder for satisfaction with life and with an ad hoc happiness scale. The study presents data on adolescent health from the Health Behavior in School-aged Children (HBSC)/World Health Organization study in Portugal (2006), with a sample of 4,877 adolescents, average age of 14 years old and gender distribution at 49,6% males. Portuguese adolescents showed differences between gender and age group regarding their body image-related satisfaction/dissatisfaction and self-perceived body image, being that both components have a direct impact on the levels of well-being. The male gender has better results in the perception of body image and, consequently, well-being. The largest inter-gender differences for well-being is at 15 years of age. The main predictors of well-being are the look and body satisfaction/dissatisfaction, with greater importance on the affective component. This research highlights the importance of body image for adolescents' well-being, as well as to prepare educational strategies adapted to adolescents' age and gender, by helping them to develop skills concerning self-knowledge and caring for their look.

The Impact of Body Image on Consumers’ Perceptions of Idealized Advertising Images and Brand Attitudes

The purpose of this study was to examine how individuals’ body images influence their attitude toward an apparel brand through their perceptions of attractiveness and similarity with thin-idealized and nonidealized advertising images in the social comparison process. Data were collected from 143 female college students at a Midwestern university using a Web-based survey. Exposure to thin models did not induce more favorable brand attitudes than exposure to average-size models. However, individuals’ body images indirectly influenced brand attitudes through their perceptions of similarity with model images in the social comparison process. The results indicate the importance of body image in understanding a person’s interpretation of media images. The results imply that advertisers could feature more realistic model images reflecting a greater number of individuals' body images.

Bodyweight, gender, and quality of life: a population-based longitudinal study

The objective of the paper is to describe trajectories of health-related quality of life (HRQL) associated with categories of body mass index (BMI): underweight, normal weight, overweight, obese class I, and obese classes II and III. Data come from the longitudinal Canadian National Population Health Survey. Analyses are based on data for 3,864 men and 4,745 women who were 40+ in 1998/1999 and followed through 2006/2007. HRQL was measured with the Health Utilities Index Mark 3. Multi-level growth modeling was used. HRQL declined with age. For men, there was a large HRQL decrement for being underweight; trajectories for all other BMI categories were very similar. For women being underweight was associated with higher HRQL at younger ages but lower at older ages. Otherwise, for women, HRQL was ordered from highest to lowest: normal, overweight, obese class I, and obese classes II and III. Given that excess weight is a risk factor for mortality and the development of chronic conditions, the HRQL results for men are surprising. The HRQL results for women may reflect both the importance of body image on mental health and the health effects of excess weight.