Mindfulness-based interventions for body image dissatisfaction among clinical population: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) are well-validated interventions to enhance the favourable body image of individuals. Despite their wide application, the efficacy of MBIs in reducing body image dissatisfaction (BID) among various clinical populations remains unclear. This study aims to expand the literature on MBIs for BID and identify effective types of MBIs for reducing BID in diverse clinical populations for future research and practice. METHODS: A systematic search for studies published in English on the effectiveness of MBIs for BID among the clinical population was done on APA PsycNet, PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science and Google Scholar databases in August 2023. Of the 1962 articles initially identified, 17 were found eligible and evaluated based on the JBI checklist. RESULTS: Random effects meta-analyses on six MBIs revealed their effectiveness in reducing BID among the clinical population (SMD = -.59 and 95% CI = -1.03 to -.15, p = .009), with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) (SMD = -1.29, 95% CI = -2.06 to -.52, p = .001) and My Changed Body (MyCB) (SMD = -.24, 95% CI = -.46 to -.01, p = .04) reporting significant effect sizes. Among the patients with breast cancer, MyCB (SMD = -.24, 95% CI = -.46 to -.01, p = .04) showed a significant effect size. CONCLUSIONS: MBIs appear to be promising interventions in reducing BID among the clinical population. However, findings should be considered cautiously due to the possible publication bias, high heterogeneity and fewer available studies.

Comparing and self-objectifying: The effect of sexualized imagery posted by Instagram Influencers on women's body image.

Influencers are prominent figures on social media with a large number of followers who promote products, companies, and/or lifestyles. Some Influencers endorse lingerie and bikini products and there is growing concern about the overtly sexualized nature of the imagery they post to social media. This study aimed to experimentally examine the impact of exposure to images of female Influencers dressed in either fashionable clothes (fashion condition) or in lingerie/bikini garments posed in a suggestive manner (sexualized condition) on women's negative mood and body dissatisfaction relative to control (fashion products). Young women (N = 230, aged 17-25years) were recruited online and randomly allocated to one of the conditions. They completed pre/post state measures of mood and body dissatisfaction, as well as measures of state appearance comparison and self-objectification. Planned comparisons revealed that viewing images of Influencers led to greater negative mood, body dissatisfaction, self-objectification, and appearance comparison than viewing control images. Viewing sexualized images also led to greater negative mood, body dissatisfaction, and appearance comparison than did viewing standard fashion images. State appearance comparison was found to mediate these differences. The findings highlight the negative impact of sexualized images on social media and the need for enhanced regulation in relation to Influencer advertising.

Eating Disorders and Dietary Supplements: A Review of the Science.

Disordered eating is a serious health concern globally. The etiology is complex and multidimensional and differs somewhat for each specific eating disorder. Several risk factors have been identified which include psychological, genetic, biochemical, environmental, and sociocultural factors. Poor body image, low self-esteem, teasing, family dynamics, and exposure to media images have also been identified as risk factors. While it is enticing to consider a single behavioral risk factor, doing so fails to consider the documented environmental, social, psychological, biological, and cultural factors that contribute to the development of an eating disorder in a multidimensional and complex integration that is undoubtedly unique to everyone. Focusing only on any one factor without taking the complex etiology into account is remiss. For example, it has been suggested that the use of dietary supplements may lead to eating disorders, despite a lack of evidence to support this conjecture. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to examine the evidence-based risk factors for eating disorders and discuss why connecting dietary supplements to eating disorder etiology is not supported by the scientific literature and may interfere with treatment. Established, effective prevention and treatment approaches for eating disorders should be the focus of public health initiatives in this domain.

Relatos da pandemia: ser mulher e mãe em tempos de covid-19 / Pandemic reports: being a woman and mother in covid-19 times / Relatos de la pandemia: ser mujer y madre en tiempos del covid-19

Partindo da pergunta "Como tem sido ser mulher e mãe em tempos de pandemia?", o presente estudo convidou mulheres que são mães, em redes sociais virtuais, a partilhar um relato de suas experiências com a readaptação parental em função do distanciamento social causado pela pandemia de covid-19. O objetivo foi refletir sobre a experiência de ser mulher e mãe em tempos de covid-19 e distanciamento social, apontando algumas ressonâncias do cenário pandêmico na subjetividade dessas mulheres. O estudo teve como base o referencial psicanalítico, tanto na construção da pesquisa e análise dos relatos quanto na sua discussão. A análise dos cerca de 340 relatos coletados, os quais variaram de uma breve frase a longos parágrafos, apontou para uma série de questionamentos, pontos de análise e reflexões. A pandemia, e o decorrente distanciamento social, parece ter colocado uma lente de aumento sobre as angústias das mulheres que são mães, evidenciando sentimentos e sofrimentos sempre presentes. Destacaram-se, nos relatos, a sobrecarga das mulheres com as tarefas de cuidado dos filhos e da casa, a culpa, a solidão, a exaustão, e o sentimento de que não havia espaço nesse contexto para "ser mulher", sendo isso entendido especialmente a questões estéticas e de vaidade.(AU)

Starting from the question "How does it feel to be a woman and a mother in pandemic times?", this study invited women who are mothers, in virtual social networks, to share their experiences regarding parental adaptations due to social distancing caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective was to reflect on the experience of being a woman and a mother in the context of COVID-19 and of social distancing, pointing out some resonances of the pandemic scenario in the subjectivity of these women. The study was based on the psychoanalytical framework, both in the construction of the research and analysis of the reports and in their discussion. The analysis of about 340 collected reports, which ranged from a brief sentence to long paragraphs, pointed to a series of questions, analysis topics, and reflections. The pandemic, and the resulting social distancing, seems to have placed a magnifying glass over the anguish of women who are mothers, showing ever-present feelings and suffering. The reports highlighted women's overload with child and house care tasks, the guilt, loneliness, exhaustion, and the feeling that there was no space in this context to "be a woman," and it extends to aesthetic and vanity related questions especially.(AU)

A partir de la pregunta "¿cómo te sientes siendo mujer y madre en tiempos de pandemia?", este estudio invitó por las redes sociales a mujeres que son madres a compartir un relato de sus experiencias sobre la readaptación parental en función del distanciamiento social causado por la pandemia del covid-19. Su objetivo fue reflexionar sobre la experiencia de ser mujer y madre en tiempos del covid-19 y el distanciamiento social, señalando algunas resonancias del escenario pandémico en la subjetividad de estas mujeres. Este estudio se basó en el marco psicoanalítico, tanto en la construcción de la investigación y análisis de los informes como en su discusión. El análisis de los casi 340 relatos, que variaron de una pequeña frase a largos párrafos, generó en las investigadoras una serie de cuestionamientos y reflexiones. La pandemia y el consecuente distanciamiento social parece haber agrandado las angustias de las mujeres que son madres, evidenciando sentimientos y sufrimientos siempre presentes. En los relatos destacan la sobrecarga de las mujeres con las tareas de cuidado de los hijos y del hogar, la culpa, la soledad, el cansancio, así como el sentimiento de que no hay espacio em este contexto para "ser mujer", relacionado principalmente a cuestiones estéticas y de vanidad.(AU)

Exploring the impact of a gratitude-focused meditation on body dissatisfaction: Can a brief auditory gratitude intervention protect young women against exposure to the thin ideal?

This study aimed to determine if a brief gratitude-focused meditation would significantly impact body dissatisfaction, and whether it would serve as a protective factor from exposure to thin idealized images in a sample of undergraduate women. 176 participants (Mage= 19.75) engaged in either a gratitude meditation, mindfulness meditation, or listened to a recording of a history textbook. Women were subsequently exposed to a set of neutral images or thin ideal images. Women reported significant decreases in state body dissatisfaction following all auditory conditions, regardless of auditory content. Decreased levels of body dissatisfaction persisted through exposure to neutral images, but not through exposure to thin ideal images. Results indicated that both the gratitude and mindfulness interventions were effective in eliciting a significant increase in self-reported levels of gratitude and mindfulness compared to controls. The results of the study suggest that auditory micro-interventions can decrease body dissatisfaction in young adult women. However, further investigation into the optimal modality, length, and frequency of micro-interventions aimed at buffering the negative effects of idealized thin image exposure on women is needed.

Blinded by bodies: Elevated eating disorder symptomatology is associated with increased attentional priority for thin bodies.

Selective processing of female thin-ideal body imagery is associated with greater body dissatisfaction, and eating disorder-specific rumination has been shown to mediate this relationship. Across two studies, we employed a modified rapid serial visual presentation task (similar to that used within the emotion-induced blindness literature), such that participants searched for a task-relevant target that was sometimes preceded by a thin body, non-thin body, or neutral task-irrelevant distractor. Our first experiment (N = 372) revealed a "body-induced blindness" in an unselected female sample, such that bodies in general distracted attention more than neutral images, and non-thin bodies distracted more than thin-ideal bodies. In our second experiment, female participants were selected based on eating disorder symptomatology (N = 114). Females that exhibited elevated eating disorder symptoms were distracted more by thin bodies compared to those low in symptomatology, greater distraction from thin bodies was associated with greater body dissatisfaction, and this relationship was mediated by eating disorder-specific rumination. Altogether, our findings illustrate the persistent nature of attentional distortions that occur early in cognitive processing and across time for those high in eating disorder symptomatology.

Instagram Sexualization: When posts make you feel dissatisfied and wanting to change your body.

Instagram is a visually centered social media that involves the presence of sexualized imagery posted by users. Such Instagram sexualization may have a negative impact on women's body image. The present study examined whether exposure to Instagram sexualization, namely posts of sexualized women along with appearance-related comments, affected women's body satisfaction and cosmetic surgery intentions. In doing so, it also considered the moderating role of Instagram Addiction Proclivity (IAP). Young Italian female participants (N = 247) were randomly exposed to one of four video conditions resulting from the combination of either sexualized or non-sexualized women's pictures on Instagram, paired with appearance or neutral comments. In the sexualized picture condition participants' body dissatisfaction increased compared to pre-exposure levels and to the non-sexualized picture condition. The type of comments did not affect participants' body satisfaction. Moreover, IAP predicted cosmetic surgery intentions and moderated their reactions to Instagram content. Indeed, the higher the IAP, the higher the cosmetic surgery intentions of participants viewing sexualized pictures with neutral comments and non-sexualized pictures with body appearance comments. These findings suggest that female Instagram users should be aware of the negative impacts of viewing sexualized imagery as well as the role that IAP may play.

Do the metrics matter? An experimental investigation of Instagram influencer effects on mood and body dissatisfaction.

Instagram is saturated with content from 'influencers', users who create high-quality idealised content, attain celebrity-level following, and often leverage their popularity to earn money through brand partnership/promotion. Although existing literature generally indicates the negative impact of idealised Instagram imagery on female psychological wellbeing, influencer imagery has yet to receive thorough attention. We investigated the impact of high versus low popularity influencer images on mood and body dissatisfaction. Adult women (N = 111, aged 17-40) were randomly allocated to one of three groups: either (1) the influencer-high group (idealised imagery alongside high 'like'/follow metrics); (2) the influencer-low group (the same idealised imagery adjusted for low popularity metrics); or (3) a nature control group with matched low-popularity metrics. Results revealed significantly higher negative mood and body dissatisfaction within the two influencer imagery groups compared with the control group. Interestingly, comparisons revealed no significant differences between the influencer-high and influencer-low groups on mood and body dissatisfaction. The findings suggest that users should be aware of the potentially negative impacts of viewing idealised influencer imagery, regardless of whether the content is high or low in popularity.

Yoga's impact on risk and protective factors for disordered eating: a pilot prevention trial.

Yoga has been proposed as a strategy for improving risk and protective factors for eating disorders, but few prevention trials have been conducted. The purpose of this pilot study was to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a yoga series in female college students (n = 52). Participants were randomized to a yoga intervention (three 50-minute yoga classes/week for 10 weeks conducted by certified yoga teachers who received a 3-day intensive training) or a control group. Risk and protective factors, assessed at baseline, 5 and 10 weeks, included body dissatisfaction, negative affect, loneliness, self-compassion, positive affect, and mindfulness. Mixed models controlling for baseline levels of outcome variables were run. On average, participants attended 20 out of 30 yoga classes, and the majority of participants reported high levels of satisfaction with the yoga series. Appearance orientation decreased and positive affect increased in the yoga group relative to the control group. After controlling for baseline levels, the yoga group had a significantly higher positive affect than the control group. Changes in other outcomes were not statistically significant, as compared to the control condition. Future yoga research directions are discussed including education about body image, measure and sample selection, and use of an implementation science framework.

The differential impact of viewing fitspiration and thinspiration images on men's body image concerns: An experimental ecological momentary assessment study.

To date, little is known about the impact of fitspiration and thinspiration exposure on men, as previous studies on these social media trends were primarily conducted on women. Male participants (n = 223) completed baseline measures of trait body image, then used a smartphone application to complete up to six state-based assessments daily for seven days. In each assessment, participants were randomly assigned to one of three image conditions (fitspiration, thinspiration, or neutral). Before and after viewing each image, they reported state body fat dissatisfaction, muscularity dissatisfaction, negative mood, and urge to engage in behaviours to reduce body fat and increase muscularity. Multi-level analyses revealed that compared to viewing neutral images, viewing fitspiration images increased men's body dissatisfaction, whereas viewing thinspiration images decreased body dissatisfaction. Viewing either fit- or thinspiration images also led to lower mood and greater urges to increase muscularity, whereas only fitspiration images increased urges to reduce body fat. Men with greater baseline muscularity dissatisfaction and higher appearance comparison were most vulnerable to muscularity dissatisfaction after viewing fitspiration images. Findings suggest the importance of limiting exposure to fitspiration imagery and implementing social media literacy programmes for men and well as women.

A yoga-based therapy program designed to improve body image among an outpatient eating disordered population: program description and results from a mixed-methods pilot study.

Poor body image is a critical barrier to eating disorder recovery. This pilot project was designed as a feasibility study to examine a novel group-based, therapeutic yoga and body image program (YBI) for addressing negative body image in those clinically diagnosed with an eating disorder (anorexia, bulimia nervosa, and other specified feeding or eating disorder) receiving outpatient level treatment at an eating disorder treatment center located in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. Self-administered questionnaires were completed by 67 participants at the beginning and end of the 8-week series, to better understand the acceptability of the YBI program and its potential effects on body image and self-worth during outpatient eating disorder treatment. Quantitative survey questions assessed participants' body image concerns, while open-ended questions probed participants' experiences and the perceived impact of the yoga program on their body image. After completion of the yoga program, mean item scores on the body image concern survey improved: increases ranged from 0.3 to 0.8 points on a 5-point scale. In open-ended questions, participants described many positive changes to their body image. Participants reported that the yoga program improved their self-acceptance, self-awareness, confidence, emotional and physical strength, and was a positive form of release. Participants also discussed physical and emotional challenges of the yoga program and how they contributed to self-judgment, vulnerability, and confrontation of uncomfortable feelings. The results of this pilot study are promising and warrant consideration of more rigorous study designs to explore the potential of a body image specific therapeutic yoga program to aid those in eating disorder treatment to improve body image disturbances.

#Loveyourbody: The effect of body positive Instagram captions on women's body image.

One increasing trend on social media is the posting of body positive content that aims to challenge narrow beauty ideals and instead promote acceptance and appreciation of all bodies. The aim of the present study was to experimentally investigate the effect of body positive captions attached to Instagram images on young women's body image. Participants were 384 women aged 18-30 years randomly assigned to view Instagram images of thin or average-sized women containing either body positive captions or no captions. In contrast to prediction, the body positive captions had no effect on body dissatisfaction or body appreciation. There was a significant effect of image type, whereby the average images resulted in less body dissatisfaction and greater body appreciation than the thin images. A significant three-way interaction indicated that for women high on thin-ideal internalisation, body positive captions on average images led to greater body appreciation, but lower body appreciation when attached to thin images. The results suggest that the visual imagery of an Instagram post is a more potent contributor to body image than any accompanying text. Presenting a more diverse array of women's bodies on social media is likely a more effective way to foster body satisfaction and appreciation.

Yoga Practice in a College Sample: Associated Changes in Eating Disorder, Body Image, and Related Factors Over Time.

Yoga practice is associated with improvements in eating disorder (ED) symptoms and body dissatisfaction. This study continued to evaluate this relationship while also assessing changes in variables negatively associated with ED symptoms (self-compassion, mindfulness, body appreciation, self-efficacy) that are emphasized throughout yoga. Men were also included in this study given studies have predominantly focused on women. Participants (N = 99, 77.8% women) were recruited from a university-implemented yoga course and completed assessments at the beginning (Time 1 (T1)) and end (Time 2 (T2)) of an eight-week yoga course meeting three times a week for fifty minutes. Body dissatisfaction (ps <.05) and ED pathology (p = .02) were lower at T2. Body appreciation (p < .001), self-compassion (p = .01), yoga self-efficacy (p = .004) were higher at T2. Some gender differences emerged. Men reported greater reductions in concern with being overweight, (Overweight Preoccupation) from T1 (M = 2.46, SD = 0.61) to T2 (M = 2.13, SD = 0.61) compared to women, T1 (M = 2.75, SD = 0.98) to T2 (M = 2.69, SD = 0.97) associated with yoga practice. Men also reported greater improvements in body satisfaction (Appearance Evaluation) from T1 (M = 3.60, SD = 0.49) to T2 (M = 3.90, SD = 0.34) compared with women, T1 (M = 3.48, SD = 0.58) to T2 (M = 3.39, SD = 0.52) associated with yoga practice. Results suggest yoga may be associated with concurrent changes in protective and risk factors for ED in a college population.

Digital Manipulation of Images of Models' Appearance in Advertising: Strategies for Action Through Law and Corporate Social Responsibility Incentives to Protect Public Health.

CONTEXT: Widespread digital retouching of advertising imagery in the fashion, beauty, and other consumer industries promotes unrealistic beauty standards that have harmful effects on public health. In particular, exposure to misleading beauty imagery is linked with greater body dissatisfaction, worse mood, poorer self-esteem, and increased risk for disordered eating behaviors. Moreover, given the social, psychological, medical, and economic burden of eating disorders, there is an urgent need to address environmental risk factors and to scale up prevention efforts by increasing the regulation of digitally altered advertising imagery. METHODS: This manuscript summarizes the health research literature linking digital retouching of advertising to increased risk of eating disorders, disordered weight and appearance control behaviors, and body dissatisfaction in consumers, followed by a review of global policy initiatives designed to regulate digital retouching to reduce health harms to consumers. Next, we turn to the US legal context, reporting on findings generated through legal research via Westlaw and LexisNexis, congressional records, federal agency websites, law review articles, and Supreme Court opinions, in addition to consulting legal experts on both tax law and the First Amendment, to evaluate the viability of various policy initiatives proposed to strengthen regulation on digital retouching in the United States. FINDINGS: Influencing advertising practices via tax incentives combined with corporate social responsibility initiatives may be the most constitutionally feasible options for the US legal context to reduce the use of digitally alternated images of models' bodies in advertising. CONCLUSIONS: Policy and corporate initiatives to curtail use of digitally altered images found to be harmful to mental and behavioral health of consumers could reduce the burden of eating disorders, disordered weight and appearance control behaviors, and body dissatisfaction and thereby improve population health in the United States.

Disordered eating behaviours and correlates in yoga practitioners: a systematic review.

PURPOSE: Yoga has been increasingly used as a complementary therapy for eating disorders. However, it is still not clear whether yoga is effective in the prevention and treatment of eating disorders, as some studies suggest that yoga practitioners show elevated levels of disordered eating behaviours. The goal of this systematic review is, thus, to analyse the occurrence of disordered eating behaviours and correlates in yoga practitioners. METHOD: PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews were used. Search was conducted in several databases and specific journals. RESULTS: Twelve articles, all cross-sectional, were identified, following PRISMA guidelines. Results across studies were inconsistent. Yoga practice was usually associated with healthier eating behaviours, lower disordered eating symptoms, and higher positive body image and body satisfaction, suggesting that yoga practitioners may be at a lower risk of developing eating disorders. However, other studies suggested that a high dosage of yoga practice may be associated with a higher prevalence of disordered eating behaviours. CONCLUSIONS: As yoga is increasingly used as therapy for eating disorders, understanding the relationship between yoga dosage and disordered eating behaviours is critical to guide treatment recommendations and establish yoga as a valuable complementary therapy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level I, systematic review.

Dismorfia muscular: características alimentares ?e da suplementação nutricional / Muscle dysmorphia: food intake and dietary supplements characteristics

Introdução: A dismorfia muscular produz mudanças na alimentação. Com ela a dieta passa a ser hiperprotéica e hipolipídica, acompanhada de diversos suplementos alimentares. Objetivos: Analisar as características da alimentação de sujeitos com dismorfia muscular. Métodos: Pesquisa transversal, descritiva interpretativa, de abordagem quali-quantitativa. Resultados: As modificações na rotina alimentar objetivam aumentar a massa muscular e/ou reduzir a gordura corporal. Houve recusas de convites à restaurantes, reuniões ou jantares, em razão das exigências dietéticas especiais. Os suplementos consumidos são hiperprotéicos, aminoácidos e termogênicos. A dieta e o consumo de suplementos alimentares são incentivados por amigos, comerciantes, professores de educação física e pelos familiares. Conclusão: o consumo excessivo e descontrolado de proteínas e a drástica redução na ingestão de lipídeos, como consequência do excessivo desejo de modificação estética entre os sujeitos com dismorfia muscular, reflete em grave problema de saúde que demanda medidas oficiais, além de uma postura adequada nas diferentes áreas da saúde, especialmente a Educação Física.

Introduction: Muscle dysmorphia produces changes in diet. With her diet becomes protein and hipolipidic, accompanied by various dietary supplements. Objectives: To analyze the characteristics of feed of subjects with muscle dysmorphia. Methods: Transversal, descriptive, interpretive, qualitative and quantitative approach. Results: Changes in dietary practices aimed at increasing muscle mass and / or reduce body fat. Been refused calls for restaurants, meetings or dinners, because of special dietary requirements. Supplements consumed are high in protein, amino acids and thermogenic. The diet and consumption of dietary supplements are encouraged by friends, businessmen, teachers of physical education and the family. Conclusion: The excessive and uncontrolled consumption of protein and a drastic reduction in dietary fat as a consequence of the excessive desire for aesthetic change between subjects with muscle dysmorphia, reflects a serious health problem that requires official action, and proper posture in different health, especially physical education.