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Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore teacher candidates' response to young adult literature (prose and comics) featuring fat identified protagonists. The paper considers the textual and embodied resources readers use and reject when imagining and interpreting a character's body. This paper explores how readers' meaning making was influenced when reading prose versus comics. This paper adds to a corpus of scholarship about the relationships between young adult literature, comics, bodies and reader response theory. Design/methodology/approach: At the time of the study, participants were enrolled in a teacher education program at a Midwestern University, meeting monthly for a voluntary book club dedicated to reading and discussing young adult literature. To examine readers' responses to comics and prose featuring fat-identified protagonists, the author used descriptive qualitative methodologies to conduct a thematic analysis of meeting transcripts, written participant reflections and researcher memos. Analysis was grounded in theories of reader response, critical fat studies and multimodality. Findings: Analyses indicated many readers reject textual clues indicating a character's body size and weight were different from their own. Readers read their bodies into the stories, regarding them as self-help narratives instead of radical counternarratives. Some readers were not able to read against their assumptions of thinness (and whiteness) until prompted by the researcher and other participants. Originality/value: Although many reader response scholars have demonstrated readers' tendencies toward personal identification in the face of racial and class differences, there is less research regarding classroom practices around the entanglement of physical bodies, body image and texts. Analyzing reader's responses to the constructions of fat bodies in prose versus comics may help English Language Arts (ELA) educators and students identify and deconstruct ideologies of thin-thinking and fatphobia. This study, which demonstrates thin readers' tendencies to overidentify with protagonists, suggests ELA classrooms might encourage readers to engage in critical literacies that support them in reading both with and against their identities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In recent years, issues related to body image, fat shaming, and societal perceptions of weight have gained more attention in educational discourse (Carmona-Márquez, et al., 2023; Dark and Aphramor, 2023; Nutter, Ireland, Alberga, et al., 2019; Schorb, 2022). The purpose of this paper is to explore the importance of engaging students and educators to critically examine fat ideology in teacher education and P-12 classrooms through the lens of multicultural education. Design/methodology/approach: Using a multicultural lens to examine fat phobia in education. Findings: This paper explores the importance of engaging students and educators to critically examine fat ideology in teacher education and P-12 classrooms through the lens of multicultural education. Practical implications: By acknowledging the intersection of body image bias with cultural diversity, educators can foster inclusive environments that challenge harmful stereotypes and promote body positivity. This paper also provides strategies for integrating discussions on fat ideology within the multicultural education framework, aiming to empower both teachers and students from a multicultural education perspective to think critically and advocate for social justice. Social implications: This paper also provides strategies for integrating discussions on fat ideology within the multicultural education framework, aiming to empower both teachers and students from a multicultural education perspective to think critically and advocate for social justice. Originality/value: The issue of fat phobia is rarely discussed in education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to evaluate children's literature that focuses on body size issues for elementary readers. Design/methodology/approach: The paper used an evaluative tool based on three categories: content, audience and other considerations. Findings: The evaluative tool was used to evaluate six children's books identified as critical literature supporting body image. The books evaluated focused on body image but were also tied to other themes such as body positivity, body neutrality, self-love, acceptance, diversity and inclusivity. All books acknowledged and celebrated the uniqueness of varied body types. Research limitations/implications: Because of the number of books evaluated, the evaluative results may lack generalizability. Therefore, researchers are encouraged to evaluate other critical children's literature focused on body image. Practical implications: The paper offers recommendations for parents, teachers and schools. Originality/value: This paper encourages the need for parents, teachers and schools to help children embrace body positivity and neutrality so that they would love their skin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Each of the countries of the world has its own beauty standard, including body image. Body image here includes the color and the style of the hair, the eyes shape and color, the shape of the face, and the body shape. Often, the agency hires a model, an actor, or an actress who has a good look and body image to do a photo and video shoot for the commercial, poster, magazine cover, and other media to make the media interesting, to persuade the customers to buy the product, and to show the beauty standard to the readers. Unfortunately, some readers feel so insecure because they do not have the same good body image as the model on the media. In Indonesia, there is a commercial that shows a beauty of woman comes from her white skin and that is Citra hand and Body Lotion. Whereas the beauty of a woman does not only come from her skin tone. Unfortunately, there are still Indonesian people who believe that woman must has white skin to fulfill the beauty standard. This analysis will use the poster of hand and body lotion product branded Citra as one of the media. This paper shows the analysis of the issue of the beauty standard of girl in a poster of Citra Hand and Body Lotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the correlation between female body image and social media usage, focusing on the impact it has on overall well-being. The popularity of social networking sites (SNSs) has significantly impacted our digital culture, providing options for self-expression, engagement, and communication. However, SNSs also bring certain drawbacks, such as the potential for body dissatisfaction and negative psychological effects. Gap: While previous research has examined the relationship between social media use and body image, there is a need for a comprehensive analysis that specifically focuses on the effects on female well-being. This study aims to fill the gap by providing a comprehensive exploration of the effects of social media use on female body image and its influence on overall well-being. The objective of this study is to examine the correlation between social media usage and female body image, specifically focusing on the detrimental effects on well-being and mental health. By analyzing academic papers and research findings, this study aims to contribute to the understanding of the intricate relationship between social media, body image, and well-being. The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) framework was used to compile relevant literature. Data from Scopus sources was analyzed using the RStudio 4.2.1-win program. Various factors, such as the publishing year, author details, keywords, and document categories, were considered to identify important patterns and insights. It is recommended that awareness and educational campaigns be developed to promote a healthy body image and address the potential negative consequences of social media use. The analysis significantly contributes to the body of knowledge by offering a thorough examination of the connection between female body image on social media and usage, highlighting the detrimental effects on well-being and mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectification theory has been instrumental in better understanding risk for eating disorders, depression, and sexual dysfunction, with self-objectification and body shame as serial mediators leading to these outcomes. Although originally proposed to explain these mental health outcomes in heterosexual women, researchers have extended objectification theory to individuals of various ages, racial identities, and sexual and gender identities. We conducted a systematic literature review of empirical peer-reviewed published research examining the relationship between the constructs of self-objectification, body dissatisfaction, and body shame in adult, youth, and LGBTQ+ samples. Our search yielded 5200 results, of which 318 met inclusion criteria. Of the papers included in this review, 26 reported correlations with sexual and gender diverse samples, 43 reported correlations with youth samples, and 249 reported correlations with samples of general adults (non-sexual or gender minorities). The meta-analyses yielded significant, moderate, positive correlations between body dissatisfaction and self-objectification, and between body shame and self-objectification, for each of the sub-samples. The majority of samples were predominantly White and cisgender female, suggesting the need for additional research examining these constructs among racial and gender minority populations. Overall, the results of this review highlight the unique contributions of body shame and body dissatisfaction to self-objectifying behaviors, and identify the moderating role of race and gender in these interrelations. • Systematic review and meta-analysis examining self-objectification and body-related correlates. • Majority of papers feature White, female, college-aged samples. • Age, race, and gender moderate several relationships. • Need for increased representation of racial and gender minorities in objectification research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Body appreciation, defined as accepting, holding favourable attitudes towards, and respecting the body, is the most widely studied facet of positive body image. Despite more than 15 years of research investigating associations between body appreciation and psychological wellbeing constructs, a synthesis of this literature has yet to be performed. We conducted the first systematic review and meta-analysis of research on body appreciation and its psychological correlates. Two-hundred-forty papers were included, of which only eight investigated prospective associations. Random effects meta-analyses were performed on 35 cross-sectional correlates of body appreciation. Prospective associations were reviewed qualitatively. Meta-analyses showed that body appreciation was inversely associated with numerous indices of eating (eating pathology, restraint) and body image disturbances (appearance-ideal internalization, body surveillance, sociocultural pressures), and general psychopathology (depression, anxiety). Body appreciation was positively associated with several adaptive wellbeing constructs (self-esteem, self-compassion, sexual satisfaction). Crucially, pooled associations were still evident after controlling for the influence of negative body image. Qualitative synthesis showed that body appreciation may also promote better wellbeing over time. Findings confirm that body appreciation is consistently associated with better psychological wellbeing. Body appreciation shows promise as a viable intervention target in mental health promotion initiatives and eating disorder prevention programs. • A meta-analysis of body appreciation and its correlates was performed from 240 papers. • Meta-analyses revealed negative correlations between body appreciation and psychopathology constructs. • Meta-analyses revealed positive correlations between body appreciation and wellbeing constructs. • Associations were not explained by negative body image. • Body appreciation may be a viable intervention target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mixed findings exist regarding whether athletes have different levels of body image concerns to non-athletes. Such body image concerns have not been reviewed recently, meaning that new findings need to be incorporated into our understanding of the adult sporting population. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed first to characterise body image in adult athletes versus non-athletes, and second to explore whether specific sub-groups of athletes report different body image concerns. Impact of gender and competition level were considered. A systematic search identified 21 relevant papers, mostly rated moderate quality. Following a narrative review, a meta-analysis was conducted to quantify the outcomes. While the narrative synthesis indicated possible differences between types of sport, the meta-analysis demonstrated that athletes in general reported lower body image concerns than non-athletes. In general, athletes had a better body image than non-athletes, with no reliable differences between different type of sport. A combination of prevention and intervention strategies might assist athletes in focusing on the benefits to their body image without encouraging restriction/compensation or overeating. Future research should define comparison groups clearly, along with attending to training background/intensity, external pressures, gender and gender identity. • This review compares body image among adult athletes and non-athletes. • Athletes reported lower body image concerns than non-athletes. • Meta-analysis supported the conclusions of the systematic review. • Methodological inconsistencies limit the conclusions. • Future research needed to consider gender, gender identity, and specific sports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a complex environment, large bridges will present different adhesion coefficient, often accompanied by large crosswind, which makes the flow field around the vehicle complex and changeable. It is easy to cause unnecessary lane change and sideslip of the vehicle, which will affect the driving stability and lead to serious traffic accidents. Therefore, this paper studies the aerodynamic stability of cars passing through the bridge tower at high speed under different road adhesion and crosswind conditions. The detached-eddy simulation (DES) model was employed and the reliability of the DES model was verified by wind tunnel tests. An overlapping mesh technique was adopted to realize the motion of the vehicle. A multibody dynamic (MBD) model of the vehicle was established, and its robustness was verified. A two-way coupling model was then established based on the aerodynamic and MBD models. Subsequently, the aerodynamic characteristics and dynamic response of the vehicle passing through the bridge tower at a high speed were compared and analyzed using one-way and two-way coupling methods, with road adhesion coefficients of 1.0, 0.6, and 0.4 under crosswind conditions. The results show that the aerodynamic characteristics of the vehicle passing the bridge tower at a low adhesion coefficient under two-way coupling change evidently, and the trajectory and body attitude of the vehicle change significantly. As the adhesion coefficient of the road surface decreases, the vehicle passes through the bridge tower with a large lateral displacement and yaw angle. The maximum lateral force of −1406 N and the maximum yaw moment of 803 N∙m are generated when the car passes through the bridge tower under the two-way coupling with the adhesion coefficient of 0.4. Under two-way coupling, the lateral displacement and yaw angle caused by the bridge deck with an adhesion coefficient of 0.4 are 0.265 m and 0.0205 rad, respectively, which is larger than those of the bridge deck with adhesion coefficients of 1.0 and 0.6. Because the coupling effect of aerodynamic and vehicle motion is not considered in the one-way coupling, the one-way and two-way coupling simulation results differ significantly. The results indicate that it is necessary to use a two-way coupling method to study the aerodynamic stability of vehicles passing through a bridge tower at a high speed under crosswind conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. • Review of history of the marginalization and objectification of Black female bodies. • Summary of two decades of work on body image among Black women. • Discussion of applications of well-established sociocultural theories. • Overview of limitations of assessments for body dissatisfaction in this population. • Recommendations for culturally-sensitive assessment, research, and intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Industria Textila is the property of Institutul National de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru Textile si Pielarie and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

• Important to ensure scales are invariant across gender and country. • This series of papers examines a range of variables across gender and country. • Meaning of the items as well as scale structure is important across gender and country. It is important that scales that evaluate body image and related attitudes and behaviors are both reliable and valid to evaluate these constructs in different countries. This paper introduces a series of five papers that examine the measurement invariance of multiple scales for men and women across eight countries (Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Italy, Japan, Spain, and the US). The papers examined measures of: sociocultural influences (i.e., appearance-related pressures) on strategies to lose weight/increase muscle; internalization of the thin/muscular ideal; body image; personality constructs; body change strategies to increase muscles and lose weight; and eating regulation. Measurement invariance was generally well-established across the eight countries. One or more items were removed in some scales for some countries to establish invariance. Factor loadings were equivalent across countries and refined scales demonstrated acceptable levels of reliability. The most frequent difference in the scales was in the item intercepts across groups, although most item intercepts were equivalent across groups. This series of papers makes an important contribution to the body image literature by demonstrating the validity of measures of body image, disordered eating, and sociocultural factors that can be used to better understand the relationship between these variables across different countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescents in India experience body dissatisfaction, however, empirically supported interventions are lacking. This paper describes the protocol for the development, acceptability testing, and cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) of a six-session comic-based intervention, which aims to improve body image and related outcomes among adolescents in semi-rural Indian schools. If found to be acceptable and effective, UNICEF will disseminate the intervention across schools in eight states of India. The acceptability study will be conducted with 24 students in Classes 6–8 (age 11–14) and nine teachers from Hindi-medium government schools using interviews and focus groups. The subsequent RCT will be conducted with 2400 students, with schools randomized to either the comic-based intervention or lessons-as-usual (control) groups. The primary outcome is body esteem, and secondary outcomes are disordered eating, appearance ideal internalization, body-image-related life disengagement, self-esteem, negative affect, and positive affect. Additional exploratory outcome measures are skin colour dissatisfaction, body hair dissatisfaction, appearance-based teasing, and endorsement of traditional gender roles. These outcomes will be examined at three timepoints: baseline (T1), 1 week-post-intervention (T2), and 12-weeks follow-up (T3). Analyses will compare outcomes in the intervention with the control group. This will be the first study to evaluate a body image intervention for adolescents in semi-rural Indian schools. • Indian adolescents experience body dissatisfaction, but interventions are lacking. • Protocol for a school comic-based body image intervention in semi-rural India. • Describes intervention development, acceptability testing, and the efficacy trial. • A key strength is the rigorous design, including using validated Hindi measures. • If effective, the intervention will be disseminated across eight states of India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Sexologies is the property of John Libbey Eurotext Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Children with a significant cognitive and motor developmental delay (SDD) are vulnerable for the development of (future) behavioral and mental health problems. This paper aims to assess the social-emotional functioning of these children, both globally and in various domains. Semi-structured interviews with one or more primary caregiver(s) of 45 children were conducted and analyzed on 13 domains of social-emotional functioning, according to the Scale for Emotional Development - Revised (SED-R). The SED-R scoring system was slightly adapted in the current study in order to elucidate more subtle differences between children. A general delayed social-emotional development was found, with children functioning within different phases across domains and certain domains generally showing higher or lower scores. To capture the emotional needs of children with SDD, a more disaggregated scoring system seems valuable so that both the global level and the level per domain can be taken in consideration in designing interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Breast Cancer overall survival rate has raised impressively in the last 20 years mainly due to improved screening and effectiveness of treatments. This increase in survival paralleled the awareness over the long-lasting impact of the side effects of treatments on patient quality of life, emphasizing the motto "a longer but better life for breast cancer patients". In breast cancer more strikingly than in other cancers, besides the side effects of systemic treatments, there is the visible impact of surgery and radiotherapy on patients' body image. This has sparked interest on the development of tools for the aesthetic evaluation of Breast Cancer locoregional treatments, which evolved from manual, subjective approaches to computerized, automated solutions. However, although studied for almost four decades, past solutions were not mature enough to become a standard. Recent advancements in machine learning have inspired trends toward deep-learning-based medical image analysis, also bringing new promises to the field of aesthetic assessment of locoregional treatments. In this paper, a review and discussion of the previous state-of-the-art methods in the field is conducted and the extracted knowledge is used to understand the evolution and current challenges. The aim of this paper is to delve into the current opportunities as well as motivate and guide future research in the aesthetic assessment of Breast Cancer locoregional treatments. • Past, present and future of objective assessment of aesthetic outcome of breast cancer treatments. • Critical discussion of the role and impact of deep-learning-based methodologies in the field. • Recommendation for future efforts in the objective assessment of aesthetic outcome of breast cancer treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We review scales developed and psychometrically evaluated by Thomas Cash. • We update common errors in the measurement of body image noted by Thompson (2004). • The work of Thomas Cash provides a helpful roadmap for developing and evaluating scales in research and practice. Accurate measurement of constructs under investigation is an often-overlooked ingredient of research. However, sound use of strategies to ensure valid and reliable assessment is the building block for any research design, data analysis, and outcome interpretation. In this paper, we note how Thomas F. Cash has pioneered and steered this process in the field of body image for over 30 years—in fact, in the inaugural issue of Body Image , the first article after the editorial introduction focused on measurement (see Thompson, 2004). In the current paper, we detail some of the seminal measures developed by Thomas Cash as well as update the common errors in the (mis)measurement of body image noted in Thompson (2004). The future of body image assessment is bright if we focus on the illumination of past work by Thomas Cash. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social media have become a major part of contemporary life. They are also a potent source of idealized and unrealistic imagery. Contributing to the lack of realism is the ability to digitally modify photos by applying a filter or editing software. One strategy suggested to counteract the negative consequences of idealized imagery on body image is the addition of a disclaimer label informing the viewer when an image has been digitally altered. The present paper brings together and presents an overview of the existing research on the consequences for body image of digital manipulation and the addition of disclaimers in a variety of types to images on social media. It concludes that disclaimers are an ineffective means of protecting body satisfaction against exposure to idealized social media images. Based on the overview, nine avenues for future research are identified. • Review of research on digital alteration and disclaimer labels on social media. • Digital alteration has negative effects on body image for the poster and the viewer. • Disclaimer labels and captions are ineffective at protecting body image. • Reality check comments made by others may have some positive benefit for body image. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Most body image studies examine only linear associations among variables. • Machine learning algorithms examine complex linear and nonlinear associations. • We compared Random Forest, Neural Network, and Linear Regression analyses. • Random Forest was sometimes slightly superior for maximizing adj. R 2 . • This provides one example for how to apply machine learning in body image field. Most body image studies assess only linear relations between predictors and outcome variables, relying on techniques such as multiple Linear Regression. These predictor variables are often validated multi-item measures that aggregate individual items into a single scale. The advent of machine learning has made it possible to apply Nonlinear Regression algorithms—such as Random Forest and Deep Neural Networks—to identify potentially complex linear and nonlinear connections between a multitude of predictors (e.g., all individual items from a scale) and outcome (output) variables. Using a national dataset, we tested the extent to which these techniques allowed us to explain a greater share of the variance in body-image outcomes (adjusted R 2 ) than possible with Linear Regression. We examined how well the connections between body dissatisfaction and dieting behavior could be predicted from demographic factors and measures derived from objectification theory and the tripartite-influence model. In this particular case, although Random Forest analyses sometimes provided greater predictive power than Linear Regression models, the advantages were small. More generally, however, this paper demonstrates how body image researchers might harness the power of machine learning techniques to identify previously undiscovered relations among body image variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To perform a qualitative systematic review exploring the influencing factors within the surgical decision-making (SDM) processes following a breast cancer diagnosis in non-caucasian women globally. Qualitative systemic review following PRISMA guidelines. A comprehensive search strategy was applied to four databases. 5243 papers were screened using a composed inclusion and exclusion criteria resulting in 10 total papers to be included. These papers underwent JBI quality assessment and ConQual assessment to ensure strength in validation, reliability, and quality. Six main overarching themes relating to SDM were determined: fear, information, patient-doctor relationship, wellbeing, external influences, and culture. All ethnicities experienced fear in one way. Misinformation was widely experienced in concordance with either a lack of education (Iranian and Ghanian women) or language barriers (immigrant populations). Trust was overarching in all patient-doctor relationships, some being overshadowed by an authoritative dynamic in Ghanian and Iranian women. Well-being, both psychological and body image was noted in all but the Ghanian and Iranian women. Every ethnicity experienced external influences involving either others, time or cost. Lastly, cultural expectations and beliefs of the doctor was present in all native or immigrant Asian communities. The study identified several factors which were common between ethnicities, notably multifactorial fear, well-being factors, opinions and trust of others, and timing. Conversely, information availability and the nature of patient-doctor relationships varied widely between ethnicities. The study has identified some realistic and achievable focus areas for practice improvement, but also notes the challenges of changing long-established cultural norms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Appearance- and performance-enhancing drug (APED) use is a key public health issue. • The appearance and performance-enhancing supplement use scale (APES) surveys licit & illicit APED use. • Psychometric analysis suggests the APES scores demonstrate validity and reliability. The use of both licit and illicit appearance and performance-enhancing drugs (APED) has been recognized as a key public health concern. While it is estimated that rates of APED usage in non-athlete populations is increasing, true prevalence studies are limited by a lack of psychometrically reliable and valid measures. This paper describes the development and psychometric evaluation of a survey tool for assessing APED usage. Initial items for the Appearance and Performance Enhancing Supplement/Substance Use Scale (APES) were seven licit and 13 illicit APED. Following a preliminary exploration, we evaluated the concurrent validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability of the APES in a community sample of 265 participants. The APES demonstrated strong internal consistency, medium to strong concurrent validity, and good to excellent test-retest reliability. These results provide preliminary support for the reliability and the validity of APES scores in assessing both licit and illicit APED usage. Future studies are recommended to replicate and extend the psychometric investigations reported here to encompass additional validation studies and populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurately detecting the keypoints of small persons in an image using bottom-up multi-person pose estimation algorithms is exceptionally difficult owing to scale variation challenges. HigherHRNet initially solved the challenge of multi-player scale change pose estimation. However, because it uses repeated cross-scale fusion, owing to inherent defects in channel reduction, semantic information is lost. Furthermore, the aliasing effects produced by the miscellaneous feature maps formed after cross-scale fusion have a significant impact on the detection accuracy of small persons. In this paper, we propose a novel bottom-up human pose estimation algorithm based on HigherHRNet, called Channel-Enhanced HigherHRNet (CE-HigherHRNet). CE-HigherHRNet comprises three main components: a multiscale sub_pixel skip fusion module, a lightweight attention mechanism (with channel attention enhanced and spatial attention modules), and a high-resolution feature pyramid with an added Dupsampling module. The lightweight attention mechanism optimizes the feature map after each fusion. Deconvolution is replaced with Dupsampling, which strengthens the network's scale awareness and makes it more sensitive to robust scale changes. The average precision (AP) of CE-HigherHRNet on the COCO test-dev dataset was 71.9% (an improvement of 1.4% compared with HigherHRNet). Furthermore, the average detection accuracy of small persons was 68.1% AP (an improvement of 1.5% AP). These results verify that the proposed CE-HigherHRNet is more robust in processing scale changes and has a stronger ability to handle crowded environments. Thus, it is more accurate in positioning small persons in images and human bodies in crowded environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This qualitative ethnographic paper analyzes women's perceptions of whether their beauty is utilized to achieve certain ends in Pakistani society. It highlights the objectification of the female body particularly in the field of academia and various job sectors. Female participants were both students and professionals. The age range of study participants included late adolescents (aged 18-24) and early adults (24-34) from the area of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Pakistan. In-depth, semistructured interviews (17 interviewees) and focus group discussions (8 respondents, age 20-24) were used, and a thematic analysis was conducted. Results showed that women whose bodies reflect the commodified and sexualized beauty standard are preferred over women whose bodies do not fit into this category. A significant percent of the population believes that women's bodies are seen in terms of ornamental value; their bodies exist for the visual gratification of others and, in some cases, the 'self.' Generally perceived, the 'beautiful body or attractive person' also allows women to attain good marriage proposals, secure job positions, good grades in academia, and be hired by companies and media for generating revenues. Veiled women are not only perceived in terms of modesty but as easily available sexual objects. In this society, people largely expect that good-looking women will be hired over those who do not meet accepted beauty standards. Beautiful women reap social benefits, while women whose bodies are not socially approved may not achieve any positive outcome. Men in this society also understand that they have the power to tell women how their bodies ought to be and behave. Future studies might examine men's perspectives when it comes to identifying socio-cultural roles pertaining to their attractiveness and body marketing in a society known for being patriarchal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Ciência & Saúde Coletiva is the property of Associacao Brasileira de Pos-Graduacao em Saude Coletiva and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background Disfigurement and dysfunction of the face are attributes of body image disturbance in individuals with head and neck cancer. Research in body image has highlighted that people with head and neck cancer experience significant disfigurement and dysfunction with altered body image disturbance. Although research has advanced our understanding and knowledge of the characteristics of body image and body image disturbance, there is a lack of focus on the theoretical frameworks that interrogate the body image construct in individuals with head and neck cancer and the role of the face in formulating this construct. Aim This paper aims to appraise body image conceptual frameworks with an emphasis on the face as an integral organ in formulating body image. Methods Schilder's seminal body image conceptual framework was appraised and contrasted with that of Kolb's and Price's model as well as with the current evidence on body image disturbance in relation to the face. Findings Body image conceptual frameworks are valuable tools for understanding body image and body image disturbances in individuals with head and neck cancer. However, Schilder's framework integrates the physiological, psychological and sociocultural aspects the body image. Conclusion Schilder's framework embodies body image and enables an integrated and inclusive approach to body image in individuals with head and neck cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aims of this study were to examine the prevalence of overweight/obesity and to explore sex differences in body weight perceptions and correlates of weight gain among Black students at 2 historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in the USA. Methods: Participants completed a paper-based survey, and their height and weight were measured (67% completion rate). Results: The overweight and obesity rates were 33.8% and 26.9%, respectively. More females than males accurately assessed their weight (p < 0.05). Body weight underestimation was associated with male sex, excellent/very good perceived overall health, and not being informed by a doctor of having overweight or obesity (p <0.01). Higher odds of =5% weight gain were related to female sex, living on campus, and not being informed by a doctor of having overweight or obesity (p <0.05). Conclusion: Given the high overweight and obesity rates among Black students, HBCUs in the USA should develop intervention strategies for the prevention and management of overweight and obesity. College health educators at HBCUs need to provide regular check-ups or health screenings that help male students perceive their weight accurately and prevent weight underestimation. It is important for HBCUs to monitor and address weight gain among Black students as early as possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

White supremacy and racial inequities have long pervaded psychological research, including body image scholarship and practice. The experiences of white, heterosexual, able-bodied, cisgender (predominantly college) women from wealthy, Westernized nations have been centered throughout body image research and practice, thereby perpetuating myths of invulnerability among racialized groups and casting white ideals and experiences as the standard by which marginalized bodies are compared. Body image is shaped by multiple axes of oppression that exist within systemic and structural systems, ultimately privileging certain bodies above others. In this position paper, we highlight how white supremacy has shaped body image research and practice. In doing so, we first review the history of body image research and explain how participant sampling, measurement, interpretive frameworks, and dissemination of research have upheld and reinforced white supremacy. Next, grounded in inclusivity and intersectionality, we advance the Sociostructural-Intersectional Body Image (SIBI) framework to more fully understand the body image experiences of those with racialized and minoritized bodies, while challenging and seeking to upend white supremacy in body image research and practice. We encourage other scholars to utilize the SIBI framework to better understand body inequities and the body image experiences of all people, in all bodies. • White supremacy and racism pervade body image research and practice. • We introduce the Sociostructural-Intersectional Body Image framework. • SIBI can be used to upend white supremacy in body image research and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Do we own our bodies? Do we control them during the meal, or does the meal control us? In this paper, we aim to examine the complex nexus of social and physical practices embedded in eating habits. During the examination of selected culinary advertisements, we will attempt to explain how food stabilizes, catalyzes, separates, and mediates social relations, as well as social and individual bodies. The paper merges the perspective of cultural anthropology, sociology of the body, and food studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The Chinese translated Acceptance of Cosmetic Surgery Scale evidenced reliable scores • A two-factor (rather than three-factor) solution is superior among Chinese adults • Facial appearance concerns positively correlated with Chinese ACSS scores • Internalization/appearance pressure positively correlated with Chinese ACSS scores • Chinese women are more likely to accept cosmetic surgery than Chinese men This paper describes a Chinese translation and validation of the Acceptance of Cosmetic Surgery Scale (ACSS; Henderson-King & Henderson-King, 2005), a questionnaire for assessing attitudes towards cosmetic surgery. Chinese adults (335 women, 240 men; M age = 33.65) completed the Chinese ACSS and – to investigate construct validity – measures of body appreciation, facial appearance concerns, sociocultural attitudes towards appearance (i.e., internalization of appearance ideals and appearance pressures), and demographics. Exploratory factor analysis revealed that the Chinese ACSS comprised two factors, which were invariant across sex, mirroring results among other non-Western samples. The Chinese ACSS also demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's alphas >.90) and convergent validity via its positive associations with facial appearance concerns and overall sociocultural attitudes toward appearance. Chinese ACSS scores were higher among women, and were positively correlated with age among men. Chinese ACSS scores were not associated with body appreciation or other demographic factors. The ACSS seems to be a valid instrument for use in Chinese adults, and could bring more insight into attitudes toward cosmetic surgery from a cross-cultural perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Protocol for a novel social media literacy body image and wellbeing program. • Addresses a prevention gap through targeting both adolescent boys and girls. • Describes the theoretical framework for 4 session classroom intervention. • Describes the social media literacy intervention, SoMe. • Study strengths are the cluster RCT design and 6- and 12-month follow-up surveys. Youth spend substantial time on social media, which can foster self-critical processes that increase risk of body dissatisfaction, disordered eating, and depressed mood. To date, there have been few investigations of interventions to decrease the negative impacts of social media engagement in adolescent boys and girls. This paper outlines the protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) of a four-lesson social media literacy program that was developed based on pilot results and aims to decrease body dissatisfaction, dietary restraint, and strategies to increase muscles. The RCT will be conducted with grades 7–8 students from Australian secondary schools. Using block randomization, grade levels within schools will be assigned to either the SoMe program (intervention) or health lessons as usual (control). Primary outcomes will be body satisfaction, dietary restraint, and strategies to increase muscles. Secondary outcomes will be self-esteem and depressed mood. Participants will complete assessments on four occasions – baseline, five-weeks post-baseline, and six- and 12-month post-baseline. Analyses will compare outcomes in the intervention compared to the control group. This study will be the first to implement a RCT design to evaluate the impact of a school-based social media literacy program designed to mitigate negative impacts of social media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We introduce the Appearance-Related Social Media Consciousness (ASMC) Scale. • The scale has strong psychometric properties among adolescents. • Adolescent girls report higher mean levels of ASMC than boys. • ASMC is associated with body image variables, disordered eating, depressive symptoms. Appearance-related social media consciousness (ASMC) is defined as the extent to which individuals' thoughts and behaviors reflect ongoing awareness of whether they might look attractive to a social media audience. In this 3-study paper, we report the development and validation of the ASMC Scale for adolescents. In Study 1, we developed 18 items and received input from adolescent focus groups and content experts, resulting in 13 items. In Study 2, we administered these items to a high school sample (N = 1227; 51.8 % girls; M age = 15.72), completing an exploratory factor analysis and a confirmatory factor analysis on two split halves. Results supported a single-factor solution with configural, metric, and partial scalar gender invariance. In Study 3, we administered the scale to a second high school sample (N = 226; 58.4 % girls; M age = 16.25). ASMC scores demonstrated strong internal consistency, convergent and incremental validity, and test-retest reliability (measure re-administered for n = 207). Higher ASMC was associated with higher depressive and disordered eating symptoms, controlling for time on social media, gender, race/ethnicity, and body surveillance. Girls reported higher mean scores than boys. Findings support the use of this 13-item scale in reliably assessing adolescents' ASMC, which may have important implications for mental health in the age of social media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the relationship between trait emotional intelligence (trait EI) and appearance perception in a Lebanese university sample (N = 201). Two indicators of appearance perception, body image dissatisfaction (BID) and physical attractiveness (PAT), were investigated in relation to trait EI and depression. Global trait EI and the well-being and self-control factors negatively correlated with BID, while global trait EI and all four factors positively correlated with PAT. In addition, the well-being trait EI factor was a significant predictor of BID and PAT (marginal) over BMI, emotion regulation, and self-worth. These variables jointly predicted 38% of the variance in BID and 41% of the variance in PAT. Moderation analyses showed that global trait EI moderated the relationship between the appearance perception indicators and depressive symptomatology. The role of trait EI in attenuating the psychological impact associated with a negative appearance perception is discussed in relation to its clinical utility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and breast size are considered important biological features defining female body attractiveness; but their neurophysiological correlates remain largely unknown. To shed light on this issue, behavioral and electroencephalographic responses were recorded while healthy heterosexual men and women completed an oddball task, which was then followed by an attractiveness judgement task. In both cases participants were presented with female body forms that combined 0.6, 0.7 or 0.8 WHRs with small or large breast sizes. Brain activity dynamics were explored using temporal principal component analysis of the event-related potentials data. Variance in the data was explained mostly by eight temporal factors for the oddball task and six for the attractiveness judgement task. Lower WHRs seemed to gather larger processing resources than higher WHRs at early perceptual-related processes during the oddball task. The less attractive WHRs and breast sizes, in contrast, seemed to boost allocation of resources later in the processing stream, which may be due to a negativity bias enhancing evaluation and decision-making processes. This inference is supported by results from the attractiveness judgement task, although the observer's gender may also play a role. Finally, LORETA analysis of the temporal factors indicate that variations in WHR may modulate activation of frontal regions, such as the anterior cingulate and orbitofrontal cortex, that are related with reward processing and decision-making; while variations in breast size may influence activity in posterior parietal regions involved in human body perception. This paper highlights the biological importance of female body physical features in defining attractiveness, and the neurophysiological correlates that are implicated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Body image is a central component of the psychological aspects of cosmetic surgery. • Persons interested in cosmetic surgery typically report increased body image dissatisfaction. • Patients typically report improvements in body image following successful treatment. • Extreme body image dissatisfaction may contraindicate cosmetic procedure. Over the past 60 years, a growing body of research has investigated the psychological aspects of cosmetic surgery and related minimally-invasive treatments. While the earliest studies were influenced by psychoanalytic thinking, much of the work over the past several decades has been influenced by Thomas Cash's cognitive-behavioral theory of body image and has focused on the appearance concerns of patients who seek these procedures. The majority of individuals interested in the procedures report heightened dissatisfaction typically focused on the feature being considered for treatment. Studies from around the world also have suggested that between 5–15% of patients who present for cosmetic procedures meet diagnostic criteria for body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). While individuals with BDD typically do not report a reduction in their BDD symptoms following a cosmetic procedure, the great majority of patients without the disorder do report improvement in body image. The paper reviews this literature and also discusses the role of body image in three newer areas of plastic surgery—body contouring after massive weight loss, genital procedures (either for cosmetic purposes or as part of gender reassignment), and vascularized composite allotransplantation, including face and hand transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews past research on bodily consciousness and its neural representations, as well as current research on the body, self, and brain. In the early 20th century bodily consciousness was first conceptualized as body schema and body image. Empirical findings on phenomena such as phantom limbs suggested that body consciousness could be reduced to body representations in the brain. Body schema and body image have firm foundations in related brain areas including somatosensory and motor cortices, although they cannot be completely reduced to neural processes. In addition, the body image can be better categorized into two aspects (body semantics and body topology) that correspond to different streams of neural processing. Finally, we explored the se lf that emerges through interactions between the sense of body ownership and the sense of agency. The subjective sense of the self could well be the result of the bottom-up integration of multiple body representations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]