"No seconds for you!": Exploring a sociocultural model of fat-talking in the presence of family involving restrictive/critical caregiver eating messages, relational body image, and anti-fat attitudes in college women

College students' attitudes about ways family, friends, significant others and media affect their eating and exercise behaviors and weight perceptions

Objective: This study examined college students' perceptions of how parents, family, friends, significant others, and the media influenced eating and exercise behaviors and weight perceptions. Participants: Forty-one college students, mostly female, participated in interviews. Methods: A Grounded Theory approach, using open coding and memoing, was used to uncover key themes. Results: Healthy cooking and exercise role models at home were viewed as positive, encouraging healthy eating and exercise. Criticism was perceived as negative for healthy habits and weight perceptions. Friends and significant others who practiced positive health habits and were body accepting were uplifting. Cultural transmission of the thin ideal could occur through the media. Some noted that media messages were becoming more positive. Conclusions: Using peers, especially friends, as collaborators in interventions, and discussing parental influences on eating, exercise, and weight perceptions may positively impact obesity prevention programs and interventions for college students.

Adolescent Females' Dyadic Conversations About Body, Weight, and Appearance

Body talk among adolescent females has been associated with negative outcomes, including depressed mood, disordered eating, and body dissatisfaction. Yet, little work has investigated the manifestation of body talk in actual conversations between adolescent females or explored pathways through which body talk is spread (e.g., co-rumination). The present study examined body talk among adolescent female dyads (N = 23 dyads) ages 13 to 17 (Mage = 15.12) using an observational design. Reciprocally nominated dyads were recruited from a high school in the southeastern United States. Conversations between dyads were qualitatively coded using an applied thematic analysis approach. Identified themes were related to weight, appearance, and personality. Results provide insight into the social context in which sociocultural norms of weight stigma, body dissatisfaction, and eating-related psychopathology may be reinforced. Findings have implications for informing the development of interventions to reduce co-rumination of negative weight- and appearance-related body talk and to promote positive body image and healthy weight among adolescent girls.

An exploration of the association between premorbid weight status on patient and caregiver factors at pre and post-treatment among youth with anorexia nervosa/atypical anorexia nervosa

Patients with atypical anorexia nervosa (AAN) or anorexia nervosa (AN) with premorbid history of higher weight (PHW; median BMI ≥ 85th %ile) may report greater eating disorder (ED) pathology, anxiety, and depression, than patients with premorbid history of lower weight (PLW; mBMI <85th %ile). Less is known about caregiver attitudes or treatment outcome related to premorbid weight history. The current study examined associations between premorbid weight history and patient/caregiver factors at presentation, during treatment, and end of treatment among adolescents (N = 138) diagnosed with AN/AAN and their caregivers who received interdisciplinary ED treatment. The sample comprised adolescents with PHW (n = 58, 40.6 %) or PLW (n = 82, 59.4 %). Adolescents with PHW did not differ with regard to patient- or caregiver-reported ED symptoms, comorbid psychopathology, rates of treatment completion, and attainment of estimated body weight compared to PLW (ps > .05). Adolescents with PHW (vs. PLW) were more likely to be diagnosed with AAN (67.9 %, p < .001), identify as cisgender male (p < .001) and to have lost more weight prior to presentation (p < .001). Perceived caregiver burden was lower among adolescents with PHW vs. PLW (p < .001). Further research should expand on this preliminary study exploring associations between premorbid weight history on patient and caregiver factors at treatment presentation and conclusion to enhance the efficacy of evidence-based treatment across the weight-spectrum.

Body Shame in 7-12-Year-Old Girls and Boys: The Role of Parental Attention to Children's Appearance

Guided by the Tripartite Influence Model and Objectification Theory, we examined whether parents' attention to their children's appearance was related to higher body shame in girls and boys. In Study 1 (N = 195) and 2 (N = 163), we investigated 7-12-year-old children's metaperceptions about parents' attention to their appearance and its association with children's body shame. In Study 3, we examined the link between parents' self-reported attention to their children's appearance and children's body shame among parent-child triads (N = 70). Results demonstrated that both children's metaperceptions and fathers' self-reported attention to children's appearance were associated with body shame in children. Furthermore, when mothers' and fathers' attitudes toward their children were analyzed simultaneously, only fathers' attention to their children's appearance was associated with greater body shame in girls and boys. Notably, no gender differences emerged, suggesting that parents' attention to their children's appearance was not differentially related to body shame in girls and boys. These results remained significant when controlling for other sources of influence, namely peer and media influence, both of which were found to have a strong association with body shame in children. Theoretical and practical implications of our findings are discussed.

Validation of a Greek adaptation of the Anti-Fat Attitudes Questionnaire

The Anti-Fat Attitudes Questionnaire (AFA) measures prejudicial attitudes that are held about individuals with overweight BMI or obesity. Despite increased interest in research on anti-fat attitudes worldwide, the psychometric properties of the AFA have rarely been examined in non-English speaking populations. The present study aimed to address this gap in the literature by translating and validating the AFA in the Greek language. An online, community-based sample of 642 individuals (364 women) responded to the Greek translation of the AFA and measures of appearance satisfaction and appreciation, disordered eating, self-esteem and depression. Results indicated that the original three-factor solution of the AFA was maintained in both the Principal and Confirmatory Factor Analyses. Additionally, internal consistency, test-retest reliability and convergent validity all showed adequate results. These findings provide support for the use of the AFA in Greek-speaking populations. The availability of the Greek AFA adds to the toolbox of body image scholars working in the Greek context.

Negative messages from parents and sisters and Latina college students' body image shame

Using the sociocultural model and risk and resilience theory, we examined the moderating role of Latinas' family relationship quality on the associations between negative eating and weight messages from fathers, mothers, and sisters, and Latinas' body image shame. Utilizing Amazon Mechanical Turk, we recruited a sample of 195 Latina young adults (M_age = 23.24, range = 18 -25; SD = 1.95; 67.4 % Mexican-origin) who reported retrospectively on negative appearance-related messages from each family member (i.e., fathers, mothers, and sisters), positive (e.g., parental warmth and sibling intimacy) and negative (i.e., parental psychological control and sibling negativity) relationship quality with parents and sisters, and current body image shame. Hierarchical linear regression analyses revealed that negative eating and weight messages from fathers, mothers, and sisters and sibling negativity were positively and significantly associated with Latinas' body image shame. Further, we found that under conditions of high paternal psychological control but not low, the associations between fathers' messages and Latinas' body image shame were strengthened. For mothers, under conditions of low maternal psychological control but not high, the associations between mothers' messages and Latinas' body image shame were strengthened. Our findings reveal that family members' negative comments are harmful for Latinas' body image.

Feminist embodiment, body talk, and body image among mothers and daughters

Guided by the developmental theory of embodiment, the current study explored feminist embodiment as a protective factor that may simultaneously promote more positive (and less negative) body talk and body image outcomes among mothers and their young adult daughters. Results from an expanded actor-partner interdependence model (APIM; N = 169 dyads) revealed that our construct of feminist embodiment, which was composed of feminist attitudes, mind-body connection, and psychological empowerment, has potential benefits for both mothers and daughters. Specifically, actor effects indicated that feminist embodiment was positively associated with both mothers' and daughters' body image, and it was indirectly associated with both women's own body image through more positive (and less negative) body talk. Additionally, partner effects revealed a number of direct effects between one's own body talk and the other's body image, and also that daughters' feminist embodiment was indirectly associated mothers' body image through daughters' positive body talk. This study highlights the empowering and supportive nature of mother-daughter relationships and suggests the potential body image benefits of women experiencing feminist embodiment.

Family members and peers' negative and positive body talk: How they relate to adolescent girls' body talk and eating disorder attitudes

Research examining the interpersonal correlates of body talk has primarily focused on the negative consequences of perceiving fat talk on women's own body talk and eating behaviours; however, little is known about the correlates and effects of positive body talk. This study examined the associations between perceived family and peer negative and positive body talk and adolescent girls' body talk and eating disorder attitudes, and the mediating role of adolescents' fear of negative evaluation and self-compassion in these relationships. Influences of family members and peers were compared to examine the uniformity of these interpersonal processes. Adolescent girls (N = 331, M age = 15.7, SD = 1.0) completed a survey. Path analysis models suggested that in the peer and family models, perceived negative body talk was associated with more self-related negative talk through fear of negative evaluation and lower self-compassion, whereas perceived positive body talk was associated with more self-related positive talk through self-compassion. Additionally, adolescents' fear of negative evaluation and self-related negative talk were mediators between perceived negative body talk and eating disorder attitudes. Results suggest that negative and positive body talk are cultivated interpersonally by increasing evaluative concerns and decreasing self-compassion.

Cross-cultural adaptation of the Fat Talk Questionnaire for Brazilian Portuguese language

OBJECTIVE

To perform the cross-cultural adaptation of the Fat Talk Questionnaire into Brazilian Portuguese with focus on adolescent girls.

METHODS

The steps taken in this research were: conceptual and item equivalence, semantics, operational. The conceptual and item equivalence was performed by researchers in the field of Nutrition and body image; semantics involved translators fluent in English and Portuguese (n=3) and experts (n=19) in body image and eating behavior. Step 3 included 32 female adolescents (15 and 18 years), who answered the translated and adapted version to assess comprehension by the target audience.

RESULTS

Of the 14 items, six were considered adequate by the experts and 3 items required minimal language adjustments. Five items needed broader changes for cultural and idiomatic adaptation. The back-translation was approved by the original authors. The average response time by the adolescents was 3.5 minutes, with no queries.

CONCLUSION

The scale was translated and adapted to Brazilian Portuguese aimed at female adolescents, showing satisfactory results in the translation process, conceptual, semantic and operational equivalence. Analyses of external validity, measurement equivalence and reproducibility were also required.

"It really presents a struggle for females, especially my little girl": Exploring fathers' experiences discussing body image with their young daughters

Body dissatisfaction in children, particularly young girls, is a growing concern around the world. The home environment can have a strong influence on children's well-being, and parents may contribute to their children's positive or negative body image development. Nearly all research on parent influence on body image has focused on mothers, leaving fathers' attitudes and experiences poorly-understood. To address this gap in the literature, we interviewed 30 fathers (Mage = 40.30; SD = 7.48) of girls between the ages of 5 and 10 about the conversations they have with their daughters regarding body image. Through thematic analysis, we identified three primary themes: barriers to effective communication, combatting negative influences, and strategies for discussing body image. Fathers recognized the importance of talking about body image with their daughters, yet many did not feel confident or competent to do so effectively. They engaged in a variety of strategies to combat adverse cultural influences and encourage self-expression, character development, and mental and physical health in their daughters. However, messages about health were sometimes conflated with messages about thinness or food restriction. Implications for families and future research are discussed.

Adolescent body image: influencing factors and the clinician's role

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Body image is a crucial part of adolescent development for teens all over the world. Studies show that negative body image impacts many aspects of adolescent health and that anticipatory guidance about body image is important at the annual health maintenance exam visit. Weight bias is closely tied to body image and is associated with negative health effects as well; research shows weight bias is a problem throughout healthcare. The purpose of this review is to discuss influencing factors on adolescent body image and to explore interventions to promote positive body image.

RECENT FINDINGS

Research shows that adolescent body image is shaped by media influence, athletics and personal relationships. Studies have also begun to show that negative and positive body image are separate entities, and that overall health outcomes seem to be better in adolescents with positive body image. In thinking about intervention, there are ways to promote positive body image in the provider--patient interaction, within the school and community, in healthcare education, and at the societal level.

SUMMARY

Body image is an incredibly important aspect of adolescent health, and clinicians should be aware of ways to help promote positive body image in adolescents.

The co-relation of eating behavior and body image formation in children and adolescents in the context of child-parent relationships

The review presents foreign works aimed at studying the effects of parental and societal behavior on eating behavior and attitudes towards their bodies in children and adolescents. The reviewed articles analyze attitudes towards the bodies and internalized appearance patterns in children and adolescents, formation of their patterns of healthy eating and healthy eating behavior, and do not focus on eating disorders only. It must be noted that in Russia the issue of healthy eating behavior is touched upon mainly in publications concerning the medical aspect of this problem, while in foreign psychological studies it is becoming increasingly popular. The analysis of the publications also shows that the problem of eating behavior and attitude to the body, traditionally related to adolescence, is clearly "rejuvenated". Children aged 6-7 are gradually becoming the target group of researchers, so the problem deserves serious attention.