The 'not-so-healthy' appearance pursuit? Disentangling unique associations of female drive for toned muscularity with disordered eating and compulsive exercise

Risks and benefits of social media trends: The influence of "fitspiration", "body positivity", and text-based "body neutrality" on body dissatisfaction and affect in women with and without eating disorders

This online experimental study investigates the effects of the social media trends "fitspiration" (images of thin-muscular women promoting health and fitness), "body positivity" (images of larger female bodies motivating women to love their bodies), and "body neutrality" (illustrations encouraging women to appreciate the body's functions) on body dissatisfaction and affect in women with and without eating disorders (ED). Women with (n = 172) and women without ED (n = 210) were randomly assigned to the conditions "fitspiration", "body positivity", and text-based "body neutrality", each comprising the presentation of 30 Instagram posts. Before and after viewing the posts, participants answered state questionnaires on body dissatisfaction and affect. The results revealed that body dissatisfaction increased after viewing "fitspiration" images and decreased after viewing "body positivity" and text-based "body neutrality" posts. Positive affect decreased following exposure to "fitspiration" and text-based "body neutrality" but remained unchanged following "body positivity". Negative affect decreased following "body positivity" and text-based "body neutrality" content but did not change following exposure to "fitspiration". There was no differential effect on women with versus without ED. This study demonstrates harmful effects of "fitspiration" on body image and affect, indicating the need for prevention programs for both women with and without ED.

Use of photo filters is associated with muscle dysmorphia symptomatology among adolescents and young adults

It has been documented in the literature that the use of photo filters to alter one's appearance may negatively impact body image and increase the risk for thinness-oriented disordered eating behaviors. However, the prior research has neglected to investigate the association between use of photo filters and muscle dysmorphia symptomatology, which was the aim of this study. Data from the Canadian Study of Adolescent Health Behaviors (2022; N = 912), a national study of adolescents and young adults in Canada, were analyzed. Linear regression analyses revealed that the use of photo filters was associated with greater muscle dysmorphia symptomatology, including total symptomatology and Appearance Intolerance, among the overall sample. Gender significantly moderated the association between photo filter use and muscle dysmorphia symptomatology, whereby boys and young men, compared to girls and young women, who reported photo filter use had greater Drive for Size and Functional Impairment symptomatology. Findings expand prior research by emphasizing that photo filter use is related to muscularity-oriented body image concerns and behaviors. Future research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms that underpin this association.

The female athletic ideal - Friend or foe? Fit, thin, and athletic body ideals and their associations with women's body image

The internalization of body ideals is a critical predictor of body image and health behaviors. Thin and athletic ideal internalization in women need to be elucidated. The aims of the current study included: (i) describing the endorsement of thin and athletic body ideals among women and (ii) examining group differences in negative and positive self-conscious emotions and body image. Participants (N = 392 women; Mage = 25.6, SD = 5.3 years) were assigned to Fit Ideal (n = 110), Thin Ideal (n = 83), Athletic Ideal (n = 55), and Low Internalization (n = 144) groups based on scores for thin and athletic internalization. Three multivariate analyses of variance were conducted to examine Body Ideal group differences on negative appearance and fitness self-conscious emotions, and positive self-conscious emotions and body image. The Athletic Ideal and Low Internalization groups generally scored lower on negative self-conscious emotions and higher on positive self-conscious emotions and body image in comparison to the Fit and Thin Ideal groups (Cohen's d =.35 to 1.15). Results suggest that differing levels of thin and athletic internalization may intersect uniquely with women's body-related self-conscious emotions and positive body image and thus may have distinct effects on women's health and behavior.

Gender differences in compulsive exercise facets and their associations with eating disorder symptoms

Compulsive exercise (CE) is a core symptom of eating disorders (EDs) that is common in undergraduate men and women. Importantly, CE is a multidimensional construct, and certain facets of CE (i.e., exercise to control weight or to avoid negative affect associated with missed exercise) are more strongly associated with ED symptoms in undergraduate women than others. However, less is known about how CE facets relate to ED symptoms in men. This study examined: 1) gender differences in levels of CE facets, assessed using the Compulsive Exercise Test (CET); 2) whether specific CE facets independently relate to ED symptoms; and 3) whether gender moderates these relationships. Five hundred and ninety-one university students (58.5 % men) completed the CET and Eating Pathology Symptoms Inventory. Women reported significantly greater weight control exercise, exercise for mood improvement, lack of exercise enjoyment, body dissatisfaction, and purging than men, while men reported more muscle building than women. CE motivated by avoidance of negative emotions and performed in a rule-driven manner and weight control CE were associated with the greatest number of ED symptoms. Further, rigid exercise routines were associated with greater muscle building. Women with greater weight control CE experienced more body dissatisfaction, and women with more CE motivated by avoidance of negative emotions experienced more restriction, compared to men. Overall, specific CE facets relate to ED symptoms in men and women. Findings highlight the importance of interventions designed to target unhealthy exercise motivations and of cultivating healthy attitudes towards exercise across genders.

The associations between autistic traits and disordered eating/drive for muscularity are independent of anxiety and depression in females but not males

Previous research has shown a positive correlation between autistic traits and eating disorder symptoms, and this relationship appears to be independent of co-occurring mental health status. The current study followed a pre-registered analysis plan with the aim to investigate a previously unconsidered factor in the relationship between autistic traits and disorders of eating and body image: the drive for muscularity. Participants (N = 1068) completed the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26) and Drive for Muscularity Scale (DMS). Positive correlations between AQ and EAT-26 and AQ and DMS were observed. In females, AQ remained significantly correlated with EAT-26 and DMS when controlling for co-occurring anxiety and depression symptoms, but this was not the case in males. These findings demonstrate the moderating role of sex, and the need to consider autistic traits in individuals diagnosed with, or at a heightened risk for, disorders of eating and body image.