Mumbod? A comparison of body image and dietary restraint among women with younger, older, and no children

A sociocultural model of the relationships between social media use and body image in midlife women

The use of photo-based social media has been associated with body image concerns among young women. Women in midlife are increasingly experiencing appearance pressures, and these pressures might be particularly strong on social media. However, to date, most of the research on social media use has focused on younger women, and this constitutes an important gap. The purpose of this study was therefore to examine a model of the relationships among social media use and body image among women aged 40 and over. A convenience sample of 192 women aged 40-73 years completed an online survey assessing selfie investment, social media appearance pressures, thin-ideal internalization, appearance comparison, weight and shape concerns, facial satisfaction, drive for youthfulness and drive for muscularity. The final sociocultural model was a good fit to the data, and thin-ideal internalization and appearance comparisons mediated the pathways between the social media variables and the body image ones.

Enhancing body image in motherhood: A randomised controlled trial of Expand Your Horizon among mothers of young children

Motherhood can increase vulnerability to body dissatisfaction, but positive body image interventions may mitigate this. Expand Your Horizon (Alleva et al., 2015), an online writing intervention, enhances functionality appreciation, an aspect of positive body image. The intervention's demonstrated efficacy and focus on body functionality indicate its potential use among mothers. However, its original 3-session format may be unfeasible for mothers alongside other commitments. Thus, we tested the impact of a single 15-minute Expand Your Horizon session on state body appreciation and functionality appreciation. Mothers (N = 143) of 0-10-year-olds were randomly allocated to either the intervention group, or an active control group. State body appreciation and functionality appreciation were assessed pre- and post-intervention. Trait self-compassion was tested as a potential moderator. Participants who completed Expand Your Horizon reported greater state body appreciation and functionality appreciation post-intervention than those in the control group. Self-compassion moderated the intervention's effect on state functionality appreciation, with effects strongest for those with lower levels of self-compassion. Overall, findings support the intervention's suitability for mothers, particularly those with low self-compassion. Practical implications include possibly tailoring Expand Your Horizon and similar interventions to benefit all mothers. Future research directions include longitudinal and qualitative designs, and extension to other specific populations.

Body image distortion among Brazilian and Portuguese women with children: A comparative study between the ELSA-Brasil and Generation XXI cohorts

Solid evidence indicates that body image distortion is associated with various physical and mental health problems in women (e.g. Lee and Lee, 2016; Mölbert et al., 2017; Raj and Ploriya, 2020; Sagar, 2005; Shin et al., 2015). Furthermore, body image has been shown to vary according to life context and stage, particularly after a woman has had children. This scenario justifies the comparison between different countries and cultures. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence and associated factors of body image distortion/accuracy in Brazilian and Portuguese women with children. The study assessed women selected from two epidemiological cohorts: ELSA-Brasil in Brazil (n = 1468) and Generation XXI in Portugal (n = 3380). The data analyzed were based on multidimensional questionnaires from which sociodemographic and family characteristics as well as data associated with lifestyle and health were obtained. The results show that most women in both cohorts had an accurate perception of their own body size. In cases of distorted self-perception, the likelihood of the Brazilian women perceiving themselves as being heavier was greater if they had had cancer, whereas the Portuguese women were less likely to perceive themselves as heavier when they had less schooling. Perceiving themselves as thinner than they actually are, was associated with poorer self-perception of their own state of health in the Brazilian women and with poorer schooling in both the Brazilian and Portuguese women. The present findings contribute towards improving understanding of the influence of body image distortion on the health and wellbeing of Brazilian and Portuguese women, possibly leading to the implementation of health-promoting policies in both countries.

Do Older Women of Reproductive Age Have Better Diet Quality than Younger Women of Reproductive Age?

There is increasing recognition of the importance of nutrition for reproductive health, but little is known regarding the diet quality of younger vs. older reproductive aged women, and how their intakes relate to dietary recommendations. The purpose of the study was to examine the diets of younger (19–35 years old) compared to older (35–50 years old) reproductive aged women, and how they align with dietary recommendations. Women aged 19–50 years from the 2011–13 Australian National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey were included (n = 2323). Dietary intakes were assessed by a single 24-h dietary recall and were compared to (i) Australian Dietary Guidelines; (ii) Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution for protein, carbohydrates, and fat; and (iii) Dietary Guideline Index (DGI). Regression analyses comparing younger and older women against recommendations were undertaken, with confounders determined a priori. There was no difference between older and younger women in meeting food group recommendations, with 26% of all women meeting recommendations for fruit, and meat and alternatives, and <20% meeting recommendations for vegetables and alternatives, grains, and dairy. Although there was no difference between older and younger women in total DGI score (mean (SE) 75.6 (1.7) vs. 74.5 (2.5), p > 0.05), older women had higher component scores in limiting saturated fat, consuming low-fat milk, and limiting adding salt during cooking. Continued health promotion for women of reproductive age should be a key priority to improve their own health and that of future generations.

Body image profiles and exercise behaviours in early motherhood. A latent profile analysis

Early motherhood may impact body image, and its relationship to exercise, potentially affecting mother and infant wellbeing. This study examined whether duration of weekly exercise differed according to body image profile (BIP) based on relative levels of body dissatisfaction and body appreciation. Survey data from 262 women, 0-5 years postpartum, were analysed. Latent profile analysis identified "average", "dissatisfied" and "appreciative" BIPs. Significantly lower exercise was found in the dissatisfied compared to the appreciative BIP (p = 0.005), with marginally lower exercise in the dissatisfied compared to the average BIP (p = 0.029 with adjusted α = 0.02). This research has implications for designing targeted interventions supporting postpartum wellbeing.