Caring for myself while I'm growing somebody else: Mindful self-care buffers between pregnancy body disconnection and distress.

Pregnancy embodiment describes the way a pregnant individual inhabits their body, including disconnection and connection, likely influencing both distress and well-being. Emerging work indicates that acceptance of pregnancy-related bodily change may support well-being, particularly when co-occurring with self-care behaviors. Yet, specific associations of pregnant embodiment and intentional, individualized self-care practices (mindful self-care; MSC) with well-being and distress remain unexamined. The present study tested independent and interactive associations between MSC and positive embodiment (body agency), and negative embodiment (body estrangement), respectively, with maternal distress and well-being in a sample of US pregnant women (N = 179; Mage = 31.3 years, aged 21-43; 85.6 % White, 4.9 % Hispanic/Latinx). Challenge and threat/harm appraisals of the COVID-19 pandemic were included in the model to represent responses to the unique sociohistorical context. Measurement-corrected path analytic models explained a substantial proportion of variation in well-being and a smaller proportion in prenatal distress. Among those with higher MSC, the association between body estrangement and prenatal distress was weaker. Results support mindful self-care as protective for pregnancy distress in the setting of body disconnection. Future individualized health promotion might consider how high-stress contexts influence application of self-care practices and impact distress and well-being during pregnancy.

The effects of yoga on functionality appreciation and additional facets of positive body image.

This study investigated the effects of yoga on functionality appreciation, and the potential mechanisms that could explain the impact of yoga on additional facets of positive body image. Young adult women (N = 114; Mage = 22.19) were randomised to a 10-week Hatha yoga programme or waitlist control group. Participants completed measures of functionality appreciation, body appreciation, body compassion, appearance evaluation, self-objectification, and embodiment at Pretest, Midtest, Posttest, and 1-month Follow-Up. Follow-up data could not be analysed due to high levels of attrition. The remaining data showed that, compared to the control group, women in the yoga programme experienced lower self-objectification at Midtest and greater embodiment over time. Further, all participants experienced improvements in body appreciation, body compassion, and appearance evaluation over time, regardless of their assigned group. Lower self-objectification contributed to improvements in body appreciation and body compassion. In addition, greater embodiment contributed to improvements in body appreciation, body compassion, and appearance evaluation. Contrary to our expectations, yoga did not lead to increased functionality appreciation, nor was functionality appreciation a mediator of the impact of yoga on positive body image. Instead, lower self-objectification, and greater embodiment, drove improvements in positive body image.

Realizing Yoga's all-access pass: a social justice critique of westernized yoga and inclusive embodiment.

In the 21st century, the ancient mind-body practice of yoga has surged in popularity among western enthusiasts for its numerous health benefits. Particularly, a growing evidence base supports yoga for cultivating positive embodiment and reducing risk for disordered eating. Nevertheless, amidst its rise are concerns about yoga's departure from its spiritual foundations and increasing assimilation into the appearance- and commercial-driven exercise and fitness culture. Consequently, an exclusionary identity has been perpetuated in shaping norms surrounding who can and does practice yoga, which contradicts earlier egalitarian visions of a yoga for all. Therefore, we adopt a social justice lens in offering a focused analysis of the intersection of yoga, embodiment, and inclusion for select marginalized social identities typically underrepresented among yoga practitioners and in yoga scholarship. Data are synthesized from both qualitative and quantitative sources and integrate an understanding of how confined media representations of "the yoga body" and other practical constraints may undermine the perceived access to the practice for members of diverse groups. We conclude with inviting future considerations towards fostering more interdisciplinary community-based research partnerships among the variety of stakeholders invested in advancing the accessibility and inclusion of yoga and positive embodiment for all bodies.

"It's very valuable to me that I appear capable": A qualitative study exploring relationships between body functionality and appearance among women with visible physical disabilities.

A current hypothesis is that women who learn to focus on their body's functionality versus appearance may experience improved body image outcomes. This research is underdeveloped in considering the perspectives of women with visible physical disabilities (WPD), who have differences in body functionality and appearance that influence their body image. Our study aimed to understand how WPD conceptualize body image and body functionality and to clarify relationships between these constructs. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 15 women representing a range of ages (21-53 years) and disabilities. We used a constructivist grounded theory approach, applying the constant comparative method and engaging in reflexivity throughout the research process. We interpreted themes and subthemes based on their emergence across and explanatory value within cases to develop a conceptual model of the findings. Four major themes emerged: meanings and definitions, body image stability, factors that influence body image, and the interaction of appearance and body functionality. A new concept, "functional-aesthetic body image," emerged describing women's perceptions about the appearance of their body when engaged in functions or activities. Results may stimulate advancements in body image theory and measurement, and guide further exploration of the complex appearance-functionality relationship and its links with holistic health outcomes.

"Mom, quit fat talking-I'm trying to eat (mindfully) here!": Evaluating a sociocultural model of family fat talk, positive body image, and mindful eating in college women.

A growing evidence base confirms sociocultural theory's predictions regarding the influence of direct exposure to family factors (e.g., parental commentary) in promoting disordered eating behavior as mediated by negative body image. Nevertheless, this model has not been specifically applied to investigating indirect or vicarious exposure to family communications (e.g., negative body talk) in estimating mindful eating behavior via positive body image intervening variables. Therefore, to address this gap the present study provided a preliminary evaluation of the indirect effects of overhearing family fat talk through both body appreciation and functional body appreciation in predicting mindful eating among undergraduate females. Participants included 333 women attending a large southeastern public university who completed measures of mindful eating, family fat talk, body appreciation, and functional body appreciation via an online survey platform. Results indicated that family fat talk was inversely associated with mindful eating, body appreciation, and functional body appreciation. Whereas engaging in mindful eating positively corresponded with both positive body image indices. A regression model controlling for BMI also revealed that an orientation towards appreciating what the body can do (and not a general appreciation of the body) helped explain the inverse association between family fat talk and mindful eating. Our initial findings tentatively suggest that focusing on the self-objectifying and self-denigrating body-related commentary of family members may disrupt attention to one's own appreciation of the (internal) workings of the body thereby undermining the mindful eating process. Implications for further expanding the translation of sociocultural theory in the context of positive body image and mindful eating are considered.

Downward dog becomes fit body, inc.: A content analysis of 40 years of female cover images of Yoga Journal.

The present analysis investigated temporal trends in physical appearance attributes and attire worn by female cover models of Yoga Journal magazine between the years 1975-2015. Covers featuring a single female model (N=168) were coded for: pose activity, amount of body visibility, perceived body size, body shape, breast size, skin exposure, and revealing or form-fitting attire. When collapsed across all decades, the majority of cover models was actively posed with high body visibility, rated as at most low normal weight, possessed either a "thin/lean" or "skinny/boney" body shape, and were "flat-chested" or "small-breasted". Greater body visibility, pose activity, thinness/leanness, skin exposure, and form-fitting attire were featured on more recent years' covers. Findings suggest that the female "yoga body" conforms to the contemporary thin- and-toned media fitness ideal, particularly recently, which may promote objectified body competence, an unhealthy drive for leanness, and dissuade higher weight women from considering yoga practice.

Fat is fashionable and fit: A comparative content analysis of Fatspiration and Health at Every Size® Instagram images.

In step with the proliferation of Thinspiration and Fitspiration content disseminated in popular web-based media, the fat acceptance movement has garnered heightened visibility within mainstream culture via the burgeoning Fatosphere weblog community. The present study extended previous Fatosphere research by comparing the shared and distinct strategies used to represent and motivate a fat-accepting lifestyle among 400 images sourced from Fatspiration- and Health at Every Size®-themed hashtags on Instagram. Images were systematically analyzed for the socio-demographic and body size attributes of the individuals portrayed alongside content reflecting dimensions of general fat acceptance, physical appearance pride, physical activity and health, fat shaming, and eating and weight loss-related themes. #fatspiration/#fatspo-tagged images more frequently promoted fat acceptance through fashion and beauty-related activism; #healthateverysize/#haes posts more often featured physically-active portrayals, holistic well-being, and weight stigma. Findings provide insight into the common and unique motivational factors and contradictory messages encountered in these fat-accepting social media communities.

Got yoga?: A longitudinal analysis of thematic content and models' appearance-related attributes in advertisements spanning four decades of Yoga Journal.

Yoga has become an increasingly common health practice among U.S. adults over the past decade. With this growth in popularity, yoga-related print media have been criticized for shifting away from yoga's traditional philosophies and promoting a thin, lean ideal physique representing the "yoga body." The purpose of this study was to (a) analyze the presence and content of advertisements over the 40-year publication history of Yoga Journal magazine and (b) explore female advertisement models' socio-demographic and appearance-related attributes over time. Results suggested that Yoga Journal now contains significantly more advertisements for food, nutritional supplements, and apparel and fewer advertisements for meditation and nutritional practices than in its early years of publication. Models were more frequently rated as White and in their 20s and 30s in recent years of publication. Trends in model body size matched shifts in culturally dominant body ideals over time. Implications and future research directions are considered.

Is the "Yoga Bod" the new skinny?: A comparative content analysis of mainstream yoga lifestyle magazine covers.

As yoga has gained popularity in Western culture, concerns have been raised about its increased commercialization and assimilation into the predominantly appearance-focused exercise and fitness culture. In this context, the present study examined the physical appearance-related characteristics (e.g., race/ethnicity, body size, shape, objectifying apparel) of 142 female models and the media frames of 567 captions (e.g., commercialism, body competence, health, weight/physical appearance) featured on the covers of three Westernized yoga lifestyle magazines published between 2010-2015. Results indicated that most models were White, embodying the contemporary "thin-and-lean" media fitness aesthetic. Models were actively posed with high body visibility; an appreciable minority was partially-clad in skin-revealing or form-fitting upper-body attire. Media frames conveying commercialism and body competence were equally present. The pattern of effects tended to reflect the strength of the magazine title's endorsement of exercise and fitness cultural values. Clinical and public health implications along with future research directions are discussed.

Transfusional Iron Overload in a Cohort of Children with Sickle Cell Disease: Impact of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Transfusion Method, and Chelation.

BACKGROUND: Transfusions prevent a number of complications of sickle cell disease (SCD), but cause inevitable iron loading. With magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), liver iron can be monitored noninvasively. Erythrocytapheresis can limit iron loading and oral chelation provides a more tolerable alternative to subcutaneous administration. The impact of these factors on control of iron burden in SCD has not been well studied. PROCEDURE: Iron monitoring practices, chelation use, and transfusion methods were assessed in our cohort of pediatric patients with SCD receiving chronic transfusion. The impact of these factors on iron burden was assessed. RESULTS: Among 84 subjects, the proportion that underwent appropriate liver iron concentration (LIC) assessment rose from 21% before to 81% after implementation of R2-MRI in 2006. Among subjects with at least two R2-MRI examinations, median LIC improved (13.2-7.9 mg/g dw, P = 0.027) from initial to final study. Most (67.9%) subjects initially received simple transfusions and subsequently transitioned to erythrocytapheresis. After switching, LIC improved from 13.1 to 4.3 mg/g dw (P < 0.001) after a median of 2.7 years and ferritin improved (2,471-392 ng/ml, P < 0.001) after a median of 4.2 years. Final serum ferritin and LIC correlated negatively with the proportion of transfusions administered by erythrocytapheresis and chelation adherence. CONCLUSIONS: Routine liver R2-MRI should be performed in individuals with SCD who receive chronic red cell transfusions. Adherence with chelation should be assessed regularly and erythrocytapheresis utilized when feasible to minimize iron loading or reduce iron stores accumulated during periods of simple transfusion.