Body image and internalization of appearance ideals in Black women: An update and call for culturally-sensitive research.

Extant research on body image supports sociocultural theories emphasizing the internalization of societal pressures to attain the thin-ideal, as well as other White or Eurocentric ideals that are predominant in mainstream media. While earlier research suggests that Black women are less likely to report body dissatisfaction and thin-ideal internalization compared to women of other racial backgrounds, recent studies argue that most measures of body image and appearance ideals may not be accurate assessments of body dissatisfaction for this population. In this paper, we summarize the literature over the past two decades on body image and appearance ideals among cisgender Black girls and women and discuss the applications of well-established sociocultural theories of body dissatisfaction. We additionally highlight existing gaps in culturally-sensitive theory and assessment tools and consider the benefits of applying intersectionality-informed research. We lastly propose future directions in research, assessment, and intervention to develop more culturally-sensitive approaches to identifying, assessing, and addressing body dissatisfaction among Black girls and women. This paper encourages researchers to apply culturally-sensitive and intersectionality-informed theory to improve efforts in assessing early warning signs of body dissatisfaction and developing effective interventions for this population.

#Beautyunedited: Is labeling unedited selfies helpful for body image and mood among young women?

Research has shown that social media content that has not been digitally altered may help support positive body image. However, the effects of adding labels to such images has received little research attention. This study compared the effects of selfies that were: edited, unedited, and unedited + labeled. A sample of 350 young women, mean age (SD) = 21.87 (2.28) years, were randomly allocated to one of three conditions and completed pre and post exposure measures of state body image and mood, as well as trait risk and protective factors. Findings revealed that participants allocated to the unedited + labeled condition reported greater increases in state appearance satisfaction as compared to those who viewed the edited selfies. In addition, participants with higher levels of social media literacy benefited most from the unedited + labeled selfies. Findings suggest that selfies bearing a label indicating that they have not been edited may be more helpful for body image among young women as comapred to edited selfies. Thus, labels could represent useful social marketing tools on social media and contribute to efforts to increase the realism of social media imagery.

Disordered eating behaviors and sexual objectification during New York fashion week: Implementation of industry policies and legislation.

OBJECTIVE: The working conditions of professional fashion models may place them at risk for negative outcomes including disordered eating. New policies in the United States and France, including providing private changing areas and requiring medical certificates, have been implemented to protect models from pressures to be extremely thin and sexual harassment. This study evaluated the implementation of the new policies during the week of New York Fashion Week, February 2018 (NYFW Fall'18). METHOD: A sample of 76 fashion models (87% female) aged over 18 years who had participated in NYFW Fall'18 completed an online survey, reporting on behaviors and experiences occurring during NYFW Fall'18. RESULTS: A large proportion of respondents reported unhealthy weight control behaviors, including skipping meals (54%), intravenous drips (39%), and self-induced vomiting (25%). Fewer than half reported being always or sometimes provided with a private changing area, with 45% reporting experiencing lack of privacy when changing. A subset (n = 15) had obtained a health certificate for events in Paris. Most health providers had assessed weight, but few assessed eating and exercise behaviors. DISCUSSION: Policy interventions to improve health and safety of models are not yet achieving intended goals and require continued monitoring.

Getting Real about body image: A qualitative investigation of the usefulness of the Aerie Real campaign.

This study qualitatively examined perceptions of the Aerie Real campaign that utilized images that had not been digitally modified, as well as its capacity to contribute to positive body image. A sample of 35 college women, of mean age of 19.48 (range = 18-23 years) participated in individual interviews focused on their perceptions and reactions to the images included in the Aerie Real campaign. They also described the impact of the campaign on their brand perceptions and consumer intentions, as well as their attitudes towards social policy targeting the use of digital airbrushing. Most participants reacted to the images positively and perceived them as representing body diversity across several dimensions. In addition, the majority of participants found the images to be helpful for promoting positive body image and acceptance, through both appearance comparisons, and the modeling of body confidence. In addition, many participants expressed being more likely to purchase products from Aerie and support for the brand. Overwhelmingly, participants called for widespread portrayals of diverse bodies in media, although only partial support emerged for achieving this through policy. These findings support the usefulness of increasing body diversity in media and limiting thin-ideal images as means of promoting positive body image.

Ethnic and racial diversity in eating disorder prevention trials.

Recruiting diverse samples for prevention trials is challenging, but essential. This paper provides baseline data for four racial/ethnic groups from a randomized controlled trial of a mobile-based prevention intervention and systematically reviews recruitment trends in diversity across technology-based prevention studies. Female emerging adults completed measures of appearance esteem, body image flexibility, appearance comparison, and self-compassion. White participants reported lower body esteem and body image flexibility, and higher appearance comparison compared to Black and Asian participants. Latina participants evidenced higher appearance comparison compared to Black participants. The literature review revealed that while rates of diversity in previous trials vary, the majority of the participants were White. Efforts are needed to increase diversity in prevention trials.

BodiMojo: Efficacy of a Mobile-Based Intervention in Improving Body Image and Self-Compassion among Adolescents.

Mobile interventions promoting positive body image are lacking. This study presents a randomized controlled evaluation of BodiMojo, a mobile application (app) intervention grounded in self-compassion to promote positive body image. A sample of 274 adolescents, mean (SD) age = 18.36 (1.34) years, 74% female, were allocated to a control group or used BodiMojo for 6 weeks. Appearance esteem, body image flexibility, appearance comparison, mood, and self-compassion were assessed at baseline, 6, and 12 weeks. Significant time by group interactions emerged for appearance esteem and self-compassion, with appearance esteem and self-compassion increasing in the intervention relative to the control group. These findings provide preliminary support for BodiMojo, a cost-effective mobile app for positive body image.

Body image in emerging adults: The protective role of self-compassion.

Self-compassion is thought to protect from body image concerns. However, the mechanisms of this effect remain unclear. This study examined three positive dimensions of self-compassion as moderators of the mediated relationship between perceived overweight status, appearance comparison, and appearance esteem. A sample of 232 youth aged 13-18 years, mean=18.36 (SD=1.5) years, reported on appearance esteem, appearance comparison, perceived weight status, and self-compassion dimensions including self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness. Among boys, mindfulness and common humanity moderated the perceived weight status to appearance comparison pathway of the mediation (ps=.01), such that this relationship was weaker among boys with higher levels of these dimensions of self-compassion. These findings were not replicated among girls. None of the self-compassion dimensions moderated the appearance comparison to appearance esteem pathway. Self-compassion dimensions that decrease the focus on the self may protect against body image concerns among boys.

Results of a strategic science study to inform policies targeting extreme thinness standards in the fashion industry.

The appearance pressures experienced by fashion models have been criticized as harmful to their health, as well as increasing eating disorder risk among youth by promoting ideals of extreme thinness. Given recent legislation to protect models, we undertook a strategic science study to assess professional fashion models' perceptions of the potential impact and feasibility of seven policy proposals. A sample of 85 female fashion models, mean age = 22.7 years (SD 3.7) completed an online survey assessing unhealthy weight control behaviors (UWCB), perceived pressure from agencies to lose weight, as well as the perceived impact and feasibility of seven potential policy actions. Chi-squared analyses and multivariable logistic regressions compared UWCB among models who were asked to lose weight and those who were not. Friedman and Kendall's W tests were conducted to examine differences in impact and feasibility ratings across the seven policy proposals. Models reported high levels of pressure to lose weight, which was associated with higher odds of engaging in UWCB. The policy approaches rated as most impactful were those to increase worker protections, though they were rated as only moderately feasible. Requiring employers to provide food and a 30-min break for jobs longer than 6 h was rated as both impactful and feasible. Imposing restrictions on minimum BMI was rated as the least impactful. Approaches providing employment protections and healthier working conditions are most supported by professional models. These findings help to illuminate viable policy approaches from the perspective of key stakeholders.

A Meta-Analysis Examining the Influence of Pro-Eating Disorder Websites on Body Image and Eating Pathology.

Previous research has indicated that exposure to pro-eating disorder websites might increase eating pathology; however, the magnitude of this effect is unknown. This study aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the effect of exposure to pro-eating disorder websites on body image and eating pathology. Studies examining the relationship between exposure to pro-eating disorder websites and eating pathology-related outcomes were included. The systematic review identified nine studies. Findings revealed significant effect sizes of exposure to pro-eating disorder websites on body image dissatisfaction (five studies), d = .41, p = .003; dieting (six studies), d = .68, p < .001, and negative affect (three studies), d = 1.00, p < .001. No effect emerged for bulimic symptoms (four studies), d = .22, p = .73. Findings confirmed the effect of pro-eating disorder websites on body image and eating pathology, highlighting the need for enforceable regulation of these websites.