A content analytic comparison of fitspiration and thinspiration websites.

OBJECTIVE: "Pro-ana" or Thinspiration websites are internet sites that support weight loss and eating disorders. Fitspiration websites are a newer type of site that supposedly advocates a fit and healthy lifestyle. METHOD: The first 10 images from a sample of 50 Fitspiration and 50 Thinspiration websites, chosen using a standard internet search protocol, were rated on a variety of weight, eating, and appearance characteristics. χ(2) analyses were conducted to compare website content. RESULTS: Thinspiration sites featured more content related to losing weight or fat, praising thinness, showng a thin pose, and providing food guilt messages than Fitspiration sites. However, sites did not differ on guilt-inducing messages regarding weight or the body, fat/weight stigmatization, the presence of objectifying phrases, and dieting/restraint messages. Overall, 88% of Thinspiration sites and 80% of Fitspiration sites contained one or more of the coded variables. DISCUSSION: Prior research has examined Thinspiration websites and noted the potentially hazardous messages contained on these sites. This content analysis indicates that sites supposedly devoted to healthy pursuits (fitness) may also contain thematically similar content.

A content analysis of healthy living blogs: evidence of content thematically consistent with dysfunctional eating attitudes and behaviors.

OBJECTIVE: "Healthy" living blogs are a recent addition to internet media that offer advice on improving physical and mental health. Often, these sites include information on eating, exercise, and self-image. This study was a content analysis designed to evaluate the information included on these sites. METHOD: A sample of 21 blogs was selected from a larger sample for evaluation. These blogs were chosen based on two criteria: they had won an award for healthy blogs and they had a large number of pageviews (pageviews were calculated using a web analytics website). Two raters (kappa reliability = 0.82) rated these blogs on multiple variables related to the blogger's characteristics, the content provided by the blogger, and entries posted on the blog. RESULTS: Five of the bloggers self-identified as having had an eating disorder; seven mentioned difficulties with either menstruation or fertility; 11 referenced being on a diet; five indicated that they were using some form of dietary restraint; and 11 included some form of written negative/guilt-inducing message about food. Blog entries and About Me sections contained a variety of content indicative of problematic eating and body image information. DISCUSSION: These findings suggest the content of healthy living blogs might be problematic for viewers who have eating or body image issues. The content does not approach the inflammatory nature of pro-eating disorder websites, yet information promoted clearly indicates that future research should further evaluate these sites.

Patients' reasons for weight loss and their relations to clinical weight loss outcomes in a comprehensive lifestyle intervention.

OBJECTIVE: Research suggests that individuals seeking weight loss treatment do so for a variety of reasons. Limited work has explored relations of reasons for weight loss to patient characteristics or to weight loss outcomes. The current study examined these relations. METHODS: The sample consisted of 588 patients in a 15-week fee-for-service weight loss programme. Prior to the intervention, patients completed questionnaires including items on reasons for weight loss, demographic characteristics, and a variety of weight-based characteristics. Patients' weight change outcomes were expressed as percent weight loss and also categorized into one of three previously described weight loss trajectories. RESULTS: The results of chi-squared and t-test analyses suggested that endorsement of health concerns, mobility concerns, or another person's recommendation was associated with higher body mass index (BMI) and older age. These reasons were more likely to be endorsed by White patients than Black patients and by male patients than female patients. Endorsement of doctor recommendation was more likely to be seen among Black patients than White patients. There was no significant relation of any weight loss reason with weight loss outcome. CONCLUSIONS: While certain reasons for weight loss were more often cited by certain patient groups, no specific reason predicted a better or worse outcome.

An exploration of appearance and health messages present in pregnancy magazines.

This study explored appearance-related images and messages present in pregnancy magazines (e.g. Fit Pregnancy, Pregnancy & Newborn, and Pregnancy Magazine). A substantial portion of advertisements and articles promoted appearance-related products or products for postpartum weight loss. Health messages and messages related to diet and exercise were also present. Images also sexualized pregnant women's bodies. Appearance-related messages aimed toward pregnant women may be problematic and may contribute to body dissatisfaction in these women.

Strong is the new skinny: A content analysis of fitspiration websites.

"Fitspiration" websites are media that aim to inspire people to live healthy and fit lifestyles through motivating images and text related to exercise and diet. Given the link between similar Internet content (i.e., healthy living blogs) and problematic messages, we hypothesized that content on these sites would over-emphasize appearance and promote problematic messages regarding exercise and diet. Keywords "fitspo" and "fitspiration" were entered into search engines. The first 10 images and text from 51 individual websites were rated on a variety of characteristics. Results indicated that a majority of messages found on fitspiration websites focused on appearance. Other common themes included content promoting exercise for appearance-motivated reasons and content promoting dietary restraint. "Fitspiration" websites are a source of messages that reinforce over-valuation of physical appearance, eating concerns, and excessive exercise. Further research is needed to examine the impact viewing such content has on participants' psychological health.

Driven exercise among treatment-seeking youth with eating disorders.

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the prevalence and clinical significance of driven exercise (DE) in treatment-seeking youth. METHODS: Participants were 380 consecutive referrals to a pediatric eating disorder program (90.8% female; M age=14.9±2.2). Spearman's rho correlations examined the relation between DE frequency, and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Eating Disorders Examination (EDE) Global Severity scores. ANOVA compared those reporting only DE, only vomiting, or both DE and vomiting on the aforementioned measures. RESULTS: 51.3% of participants (n=193) reported DE in the past 3 months, with an average of 21.8 (SD=32.6) episodes. Frequency of DE was related to EDE global severity score (Spearman's rho=.46; p<.001) and BDI Total Score (Spearman's rho=.33; p<.001). Participants reporting both vomiting and DE had the highest EDE global severity and BDI total scores. CONCLUSIONS: DE is associated with greater eating disorder and depressive symptomatology, especially when paired with vomiting. The findings highlight the importance of assessing for DE in youth presenting for eating disorder treatment.