Weight-inclusive, intuitive eating-based workplace wellness program associated with improvements in intuitive eating, eating disorder symptoms, internalized weight stigma, and diet quality.

INTRODUCTION: The use of weight-inclusive programming within a workplace wellness context remains understudied. METHODS: The present study is a pilot/feasibility study of a 3-month, virtual, weight-inclusive, intuitive eating-based workplace wellness program. Program participants (n = 114), who were all employees at a large public university in the Midwest, received weekly emails with a link to an instructional video related to intuitive eating and were encouraged to meet virtually with their health coach. Participants provided self-report data on behavioral and psychological outcomes including intuitive eating, internalized weight stigma, eating disorder symptoms, and diet quality at baseline, post-intervention (3 months from baseline), and follow-up (6 months from baseline). Changes in behavioral and psychological outcomes from baseline to post-intervention and follow-up were examined using paired t-tests, with Cohen's d effect sizes reported. Generalized linear models were used to examine whether participant characteristics and program engagement were associated with program outcomes. RESULTS: Increases in intuitive eating and decreases in internalized weight stigma and eating disorder symptoms were seen from baseline to post-intervention (Cohen's d = 1.02, -0.47, and -0.63, respectively) and follow-up (Cohen's d = 0.86, -0.31, and -0.60). No changes in dietary quality were seen at post-intervention, but a significant reduction in intake of added sugars, fast food, and sugar sweetened beverages were observed at follow-up (Cohen's d = -0.35, -0.23, -0.25). CONCLUSIONS: This study provide preliminary support for the acceptability and potential impact of a weight-inclusive workplace wellness program that should be tested in a rigorous randomized trial.

Content analysis of the impact of COVID-19 on weight and shape control behaviors and social media content of U.S. adolescents and young adults.

OBJECTIVE: The current study examines impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on weight/shape control behaviors among adolescents and young adults in the U.S., and perceived changes to related social media content. METHOD: A sample of youth (14-24 years) from MyVoice, a national text-message-based cohort, provided open-ended responses to questions on changes in eating and exercise habits due to concern about weight/shape, and social media content related to weight/shape, during the pandemic. Responses were collected using a secure online platform and analyzed using content analysis. RESULTS: Among respondents (n = 939/1153, response rate = 81%), 40.0% adopted behaviors for the purpose of weight/shape control during the pandemic. Nearly half (49.2%) reported seeing posts about weight/shape on social media during the pandemic. DISCUSSION: Findings from this study indicate that weight/shape concerns among adolescents and young adults in the U.S. may have increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with social media content as a potentially contributing factor.