Body size dissatisfaction among young adults from the 1982 Pelotas birth cohort

Self-Reported Total Screen Time and Viewing Modes Are Associated with Body Dissatisfaction, Disordered Eating, and Cosmetic Surgery Intentions among Young Adults

While numerous studies have shown that media exposure is linked to body dissatisfaction and disordered eating behavior, limited research has examined these associations by screen-viewing mode. This study examined associations of total screen-time and screen-viewing modes with body dissatisfaction, disordered eating, and cosmetic surgery intention among young adults. Men (n = 3466) and women (n = 7300), aged 19 to 34 years, self-reported their screen-time on various TV viewing modes, and their body dissatisfaction, overeating, disordered weight control behaviors, and cosmetic surgery intentions. We fit linear, logistic, and multivariate models to examine cross-sectional associations between total screen-time and screen-viewing modes and body dissatisfaction, disordered eating, and cosmetic surgery intention. Handheld viewing was associated with body dissatisfaction for women only, and online viewing was associated with greater body dissatisfaction among both men (βˆ = 0.40; 95% CI, 0.15 to 0.65) and women (βˆ = 0.25; 95% CI, 0.10 to 0.40). Downloaded viewing was associated with higher odds of overeating behaviors among both men (OR = 1.24; 95% CI, 1.10 to 1.40) and women (OR = 1.21; 95% CI, 1.12 to 1.32), respectively. Although total screen time was associated with greater cosmetic surgery intention for both men (βˆ = 0.24; 95% CI, 0.09 to 0.39) and women (βˆ = 0.43; 95% CI, 0.28 to 0.58), sex differences were found for the viewing modes. Our results suggest that different viewing modes may be differently associated with men and women’s body image, disordered eating behavior, and cosmetic surgery intention. Future research should consider all modes of screen-viewing in our media environment.

Misperception of Healthy Weight: Associations Among Weight, Body Size Satisfaction and Body Appreciation in Older Adults

Misperceived body weight in older people can affect their health and quality of life. We analysed the body image of older adults in Primary Health Care services in central Portugal, by considering participants' weight, body size satisfaction and body appreciation. This epidemiological and cross-sectional study involved 150 participants (56% women) with an average age of 74.9 years who completed questionnaires on body size and body appreciation. Forty-nine percent of participants were affected by overweight and 29% by obesity. The majority was not satisfied with their body size (71.2%), but had very high scores related to body appreciation. Around 40% of the participants with normal weight or overweight were satisfied with their body size. Multiple regression analysis revealed that both body size satisfaction and appreciation were negatively associated with obesity, but not with overweight. Older Portuguese adults are not able to assess if their weight is a risk to their health, but regardless of their perceived physical appearance, the elderly respect their body and are receptive to improving their health.

The ever-changing ideal: The body you want depends on who else you're looking at

The body positivity movement-celebrating bodies beyond the thin ideal-has gained traction on social media. In an online study of North American women, we aimed to determine how ideal body perceptions shift based on the presentation of more diverse body types. In Study 1, women (n = 115, aged 19-75) responded to arrays of bodies ranging from primarily small to primarily large bodies, selecting the body closest to their ideal body. Results showed that the BMI of the ideal body increased as the body sizes in the array increased. Participants were also less likely to select an underweight ideal when viewing larger bodies. In Study 2, women responded to arrays with either primarily small (n = 132, aged 20-68) or primarily large (n = 130, aged 20-75) bodies. Results suggested that ideal body perceptions only shifted around current societal standards, and not to extremes. The participants presented with the larger-bodied arrays were more likely to select a normal weight ideal body than those who saw the smaller-bodied arrays. Results suggest ideal body size is malleable, and shifting toward a more diverse perception of the ideal body is achievable with increased exposure beyond the thin ideal.

Systems Nutrology of Adolescents with Divergence between Measured and Perceived Weight Uncovers a Distinctive Profile Defined by Inverse Relationships of Food Consumption

Changes in food consumption, physical inactivity, and other lifestyle habits are potential causes of the obesity epidemic. Paradoxically, the media promotes idealization of a leaner body appearance. Under these circumstances, self-perception of weight by adolescents may be affected. Here, we performed a cross-sectional study, between June and December 2009, to evaluate the interaction between anthropometric status, perceived body weight, and food consumption profiles in 1496 adolescents from public schools in Salvador, Brazil. Data on socio-epidemiological information, anthropometric status, and dietary patterns were analyzed using multidimensional statistical approaches adapted from systems biology. There were dissimilarities between anthropometric status and perception of body weight related to sex. Four dietary patterns were identified based on the food intake profile in the study participants. The distinct dietary patterns were not influenced by divergence between measured and perceived weight. Moreover, network analysis revealed that overestimation of body weight was characterized by a selectivity in ingestion of food groups that resulted in appearance of inverse correlations of consumption. Thus, misperception of body weight is associated with inverse correlations of consumption of certain food groups. These findings may aid individualized nutritional interventions in adolescents who overestimate body weight.

The Breast Size Satisfaction Survey (BSSS): Breast size dissatisfaction and its antecedents and outcomes in women from 40 nations

The Breast Size Satisfaction Survey (BSSS) was established to assess women's breast size dissatisfaction and breasted experiences from a cross-national perspective. A total of 18,541 women were recruited from 61 research sites across 40 nations and completed measures of current-ideal breast size discrepancy, as well as measures of theorised antecedents (personality, Western and local media exposure, and proxies of socioeconomic status) and outcomes (weight and appearance dissatisfaction, breast awareness, and psychological well-being). In the total dataset, 47.5 % of women wanted larger breasts than they currently had, 23.2 % wanted smaller breasts, and 29.3 % were satisfied with their current breast size. There were significant cross-national differences in mean ideal breast size and absolute breast size dissatisfaction, but effect sizes were small (η² = .02-.03). The results of multilevel modelling showed that greater Neuroticism, lower Conscientiousness, lower Western media exposure, greater local media exposure, lower financial security, and younger age were associated with greater breast size dissatisfaction across nations. In addition, greater absolute breast size dissatisfaction was associated with greater weight and appearance dissatisfaction, poorer breast awareness, and poorer psychological well-being across nations. These results indicate that breast size dissatisfaction is a global public health concern linked to women's psychological and physical well-being.

Parent-Related Normative Perceptions of Adolescents and Later Weight Control Behavior: Longitudinal Analysis of Cohort Data From Brazil

PURPOSE

Body image-related norms can be imposed by parents and can shape adolescents' body satisfaction in consequential ways, yet evidence on long-term effects is scarce. Longitudinal data from a country with strong body image focus provided a unique opportunity to investigate long-term influences of normative parent-related perceptions.

METHODS

Multinomial logistic regression was used on data from a 1993 birth cohort in Brazil to investigate the association of normal-body mass index (BMI) adolescents' perception of their parent's opinion of their weight at age 11 years with their weight control attempts at 18 years, testing a mediating role for body dissatisfaction at age 15 years. All models controlled for body dissatisfaction at age 11 years and BMI change between ages 11 and 15 years.

RESULTS

A total of 1150 boys and 1336 girls were included. Girls were more likely than boys to diet without nutritionist advice to lose weight (51.5% vs. 34.3% among boys) and use medication to gain weight (12.7% vs. 4.2%). Normal-BMI adolescents who reported at age 11 years that their parents thought they were thin had higher odds of feeling thinner than ideal at age 15 years (odds ratio 2.8, 95% confidence interval 1.8-3.2; and odds ratio 2.0, 95% confidence interval 1.5-2.7) among boys and girls, respectively). Feeling thinner than ideal at age 15 years was associated among girls with higher odds of weight gain attempts at age 18 years. Similar patterns appeared among girls reporting that their parents thought they were fat at age 11 years, feeling fatter than ideal at age 15 years and having higher odds of weight loss attempts at age 18 years. Body dissatisfaction was a statistically significant mediator among girls but not boys.

CONCLUSIONS

A long-term influence of parent-related perceptions via a likely trajectory of body dissatisfaction is evident among girls.

Shift work, sleep duration, and body image dissatisfaction among female workers in southern Brazil

We examined the association between shift work and sleep duration with body image dissatisfaction (BID) among shift-working women in southern Brazil. In this cross-sectional study, data of 505 women shift workers, between 18 and 60 years old, were collected between January and April 2011. BID was assessed using the Stunkard Figure Rating Scale. Information on shift work, sleep duration, and other explanatory variables was collected through a questionnaire. An aggregated exposure variable was created and termed "sleep deprivation," with the exposure category being night-shift workers who slept < 7 h/day. The respective prevalence ratio values were estimated using a Poisson regression. The prevalence of BID among shift-working women was 42.4 (95% CIs = 38.0 to 46.7%), and 199 (93.0%) of these women wished they had a smaller body size. Shift work (PR = 1.40; p = 0.006) and sleep duration (PR = 1.32; p = 0.010) were independently associated with BID. Additionally, workers with sleep deprivation exhibited a higher probability of BID than those without sleep deprivation (PR = 1.31; p = 0.012). These results reveal a situation of vulnerability and the need for strategies and actions directed at shift-working women with the aim of reducing the effects of sleep deprivation on mental health, particularly with regard to body image disorders.

What are the correlates of body image distortion and dissatisfaction among school-adolescents?

BACKGROUND

Body image is considered as central to many aspects of human functioning including emotions, thoughts, behaviors and relationships. Our study aimed to investigate the prevalence of body image distortion and dissatisfaction among adolescents and to assess their main determinants.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional school-based study conducted among school-adolescents in the south of Tunisia, between October 2017 and February 2018.

RESULTS

Among 1210 school-adolescents, body image distortion and dissatisfaction prevalence were 44.8% and 42.4%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that being in the 16-18 years age group [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.28, p = 0.046], low family financial situation (AOR = 1.88, p = 0.014), as well as high frequency of eating pasta (AOR = 1.3, p = 0.04) and fast-food consumption (AOR = 1.7, p = 0.042) were independently associated with under-estimated body image. Skipping breakfast (AOR = 1.9, p = 0.017) and having one obese parent (AOR = 1.9, p = 0.01) were independently associated with higher frequency of over-estimated body image. Regarding body image dissatisfaction, independent factors associated with desire to lose weight were: female gender (AOR = 1.53, p = 0.007), high income family financial situation (AOR = 2.1, p = 0.008) and having one parent who is obese (AOR = 2.21, p < 0.001). However, frequent fast-food consumption (AOR = 1.9, p = 0.038) and eating between meals (AOR = 1.57, p = 0.01) were independently associated with a higher desire to gain weight.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study highlighted that the prevalence of body image distortion and dissatisfaction were substantially high among adolescents. Their determinants included socio-demographic factors and lifestyle behaviors. Increased awareness among parents, educators and public health planners may help adolescents improve accuracy of body image attitudes.

A Concept Analysis of Disturbed Body Image in Bariatric Surgery Patients

PURPOSE

This article describes the concept of disturbed body image in bariatric surgery patients.

METHOD

Walker and Avant's (2011) method of concept analysis is used in this study.

FINDINGS

After bariatric surgery, the patient's body may change more rapidly than their allocentric ("inside, lived") view of themselves, leading to physical and psychosocial sequelae.

CONCLUSION

If not prepared physically and psychologically for body image challenges after bariatric surgery, patients may experience disturbed body image in the postoperative phase.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

Understanding the concept of disturbed body image in postoperative bariatric surgery patients may allow health providers to provide preoperative teaching and preparation, as well as postoperative interventions to create congruence between the patient's internal and external selves.

Body image (dis)satisfaction among low-income adult women

BACKGROUND & AIMS

A better understanding of the factors that affect self-perception of body characteristics may play an important role in weight control practices. The objective of this study was to analyze body weight perception and body image satisfaction in low-income adult women in Southern Brazil.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional survey study in a cohort of women recruited from areas of social vulnerability in the city of Porto Alegre, RS. A random sample (n = 218) of women was interviewed, and socioeconomic and lifestyle factors, body image perception using the Stunkard Scale, body weight estimation, weight concern and duplicate anthropometric measurements were obtained.

RESULTS

The average age of the low-income women was 56.3 ± 9.5 years. The prevalences of overweight and obese individuals were 34.1% and 52.5%, respectively. Among all women, 83.0% were dissatisfied with their body image, and 68.9% of the women estimated their body weight correctly. In addition to BMI (body mass index), the proportions of women with a higher income (p = 0.05), smoking history (p < 0.01) and history of hypertension (p = 0.04) were significantly different between groups according to body image satisfaction. Multivariate analyses using Poisson regression showed that black/mixed race, higher income, and underweight and obese women were more likely to be dissatisfied with their body image.

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of women know their body weight and have body image dissatisfaction. Skin color, higher income and BMI were significantly associated with dissatisfaction. In addition, these women consider the "healthiest" body image to be thinner than the "ideal" body image, and the "ideal" image is one of normal weight and not too thin.

Relative deprivation: Measurement issues and predictive role for body image dissatisfaction

The study of how relative standing in the socioeconomic hierarchy affects health outcomes faces a number of challenges. Two critical issues are the choice of the indicator quantifying relative standard of living and the collinearity which typically arises when absolute standard of living is controlled for. We address these issues by taking into examination linear and concave measures of relative deprivation and by showing that collinearity can be lessened through manipulations of the measures' formulae. Importantly, we argue that the two issues are intertwined and should be jointly considered by researchers. We illustrate the points above using nationally representative data from Mexico (N = 44,214) and studying relative deprivation as a predictor of body image dissatisfaction - a growing public health concern whose effects go well beyond eating disorders. Controlling for several individual characteristics, binary and multinomial logit regressions indicate relative deprivation as a risk factor for body image dissatisfaction. By conducting subsample analyses and by introducing an interaction term between gender and relative deprivation, we show evidence of a gender-based heterogeneity in the role of relative deprivation - which predicts feeling smaller than desired for both females and males and feeling larger than desired for females but not for males. This heterogeneity is discussed in the light of the different social pressures females and males face for slenderness and muscularity. Our evidence enriches the literature on socioeconomic gradients in health, pointing to an additional domain in which a low position in the socioeconomic ladder translates into greater likelihood of developing health problems and adopting health-compromising behaviors.