Search

Objective: Theoretical models highlight body image disturbances as central to the maintenance of eating disorders, with empirical evidence finding negative body image to be a robust predictor of treatment nonresponse, relapse and symptom persistence. Accessible, scalable, and inexpensive interventions that can effectively target negative body image across the eating disorders are needed. We developed an online single session intervention (SSI) for negative body image and evaluated its acceptability and efficacy in a randomized controlled trial in individuals with recurrent binge eating., Method: Participants with recurrent binge eating were randomly assigned to the SSI (n = 99) or a waitlist (n = 101). Assessments were conducted at baseline, 4 week follow-up, and 8 week follow-up., Results: 81% of participants accessed the SSI, demonstrating reasonable uptake. However, issues with attrition were apparent; a 32% study dropout rate was observed at posttest, while a 58% dropout rate was observed at follow-up. 87% of participants who completed satisfaction measures would recommend the SSI. SSI participants experienced greater improvements in negative body image at both 4 (d = -0.65) and 8 week (d = -0.74) follow-up. Significant between-group effects were also observed on most other secondary symptom measures, though no differences were found for motivations and help-seeking beliefs and intentions., Conclusion: Body image-focused self-guided SSIs for recurrent binge are largely accepted by those who are retained in the trial, but are associated with significant attrition. Although SSIs are not intended to replace standard treatment, they may help with short-term symptom management and could play an important role in eating disorder care., Public Significance: Single session interventions (SSI) are a potentially accessible, scalable, and cost-effective way to deliver evidence-based treatment content to people with eating disorders. This study shows that an online (SSI) designed to target body image among people with recurrent binge eating is accepted and produced short-term symptom relief., (© 2024 The Authors. International Journal of Eating Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Objective: Establishing factors that protect against the onset of eating disorder symptoms is needed to identify critical intervention targets to inform the design of more potent prevention programs. Knowledge of robust protective factors is lacking, which might account for the limited effectiveness of existing prevention programs. As positive body image, intuitive eating, and self-compassion show protective potential, the present study tested whether these factors protect against the onset of a range of different eating disorder symptoms., Method: Data were analyzed from 1,270 women who completed study measures at baseline and 8 months. Logistic regressions tested whether, among initially asymptomatic women, baseline and changes in positive body image components (body appreciation, body image flexibility, and functionality appreciation), intuitive eating, and self-compassion predicted the continued absence versus onset of seven core eating disorder symptoms at follow-up., Results: Each of the five factors at baseline was associated with a lower odds of symptom onset for each outcome in univariate analyses. Baseline body appreciation and intuitive eating scores remained consistent, unique predictors of a lower odds of experiencing symptom onset in multivariate models. Greater increases in intuitive eating and body appreciation over time were the two factors consistently associated with a lower odds of symptom onset across several outcomes., Discussion: This study provides strong evidence for the protective influence of positive body image components, intuitive eating, and self-compassion against several eating disorder symptoms. Building these factors within established prevention programs may, in the longer term, help reduce the incidence of eating disorder syndromes and symptoms., (© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Objective: Besides all visible somatic manifestations, distorted body representation is a key symptom for anorexia nervosa (AN). Body representation can be divided into a conscious component, body image, and an unconscious action-related one, body schema. As behavioral studies already explored the impact of a distorted body image in AN, we aimed to explore whether distortion also extends into unconscious body schema. This study is the first with an unbiased measurement of the body schema in a homogeneous sample of AN patients., Method: Twenty-three patients diagnosed with AN and 23 healthy controls (HC) walked through a door like aperture varying in width. Door width was based on participants shoulder width and ranged from an aperture-to-shoulder-ratio of (A/S) 0.9 to 1.45. Shoulder rotation was measured as indication of perceived body width. To measure the unconscious body schema, we used a cover story pretending to investigate the influence of change of position on retention memory., Results: We found a significantly higher critical A/S for AN than HC, which indicates that AN patients rotate their shoulders for relatively larger door widths than HC, thus unconsciously estimating their body size to be larger than in reality. Additionally, we found a correlation between negative body attribution and overestimation of bodily dimensions., Discussion: As stated by the "allocentric-lock"-hypothesis, AN patients might be locked to a stored representation of their body that cannot be updated and remains at pre-AN conditions. We suggest future AN-therapy to counter body schema alterations by combining cognitive behavioral therapy and virtual reality therapy., (© 2020 The Authors. International Journal of Eating Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Objective: Most advertisements contain thin-ideal imagery enhanced by digital modification. The deleterious effects on body image and eating disorder risk of exposure to such images have been well documented. One of the proposed macro-level solutions to mitigate these effects has been the use of labels on images, primarily disclaimer labels. A growing number of studies have explored the usefulness of such labels in protecting body image against the detrimental effects of media exposure; however, findings have been divergent., Methods: The current study aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the existing literature investigating the effects of including labels on media images on body image., Results: The systematic review identified n = 22 studies that were included in a narrative review, n = 18 were included in the meta-analysis. Overall, findings provided little support for the use of disclaimer or warning labels as a means of protecting against the detrimental effects of media exposure on body image. Furthermore, findings suggested that such labels might increase state appearance comparison when exposed to media images., Discussion: These findings are especially concerning in light of recent legislative efforts to mitigate media effects through the use of labels on imagery, as well as industry initiatives based on image labeling. Additional research examining alternative strategies for universal prevention of body image and eating concerns is warranted., (© 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Objective: Body dissatisfaction is intricately linked to the development of disordered eating. However, as male body dissatisfaction appears more oriented toward muscularity, versus thinness per se, existing measures of eating disorder psychopathology may lack sensitivity in capturing disordered eating that is muscularity-focused. The aim of the present study was to develop a specific measure of muscularity-oriented disordered eating-the muscularity-oriented eating test (MOET)., Method: Candidate items were generated and refined in consultation with eating disorder-focused researchers and focus groups of men with eating disorders. Examination of the MOET comprised two studies, consisting of 511 undergraduate men, divided into two component samples. In Study 1 (n = 307), candidate items were generated and refined via exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was then used to confirm the single factor structure in Study 2 (n = 204)., Results: EFA revealed a 15-item single factor structure, which was later confirmed through CFA in a separate sample of undergraduate men. Furthermore, the MOET yielded evidence of internal consistency (Study 1: omega = 0.93, 95% CI [0.91, 0.94]; Study 2: omega = 0.92, 95% CI [0.90, 0.93]), 7-day (Study 1) and 21-days (Study 2) test-retest correlation (r s = .75, for Study 1 and 2) and convergent and divergent validity., Discussion: The MOET represents a psychometrically sound, novel measure of muscularity-oriented disordered eating. Future research should examine its utility in clinical samples and research into muscularity-oriented disordered eating., (© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Objective Muscle dysmorphia is a relatively recently identified psychological condition that, since its inception, has been variously conceptualized as an eating disorder and subsequently as a type of body dysmorphic disorder within the somatoform disorders. This review aims to inform and encourage ongoing debate surrounding the diagnostic placement of this disorder. Method We present a review and synthesis of the extant literature with a view to informing future decisions regarding the conceptualization of muscle dysmorphia. Results The validity of muscle dysmorphia as a clinical entity has been empirically demonstrated. While the condition bears little semblance to somatization as currently conceptualized, the research suggests a strong conceptual similarity with anorexia nervosa. However, future research needs to utilize more appropriate measures of male eating disorder pathology. Muscle dysmorphia is also inclusive of obsessive compulsive features that are typical to those seen in eating disorder presentations. Discussion We suggest that muscle dysmorphia be reanalyzed through the lens of an eating disorder spectrum. Recognition of muscle dysmorphia as an eating disorder may offer more clinical utility in recognizing the male experience of eating disorder pathology and also help reduce the number of current male cases falling into the EDNOS category. © 2010 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2010; 43:483-491 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT This commentary discusses a principal contribution of Monocello et al.'s paper presenting a cultural models approach to body fatness perceptions, which provides a rigorous and systematic means of identifying analytic categories that are locally meaningful, in contrast to categories derived from a solely universalizing perspective. In situating their work within an underrepresented population in eating disorders research—young men in South Korea—the authors step beyond the constraints of a universalizing, or etic, framework for probing how body dissatisfaction relates to eating disorder risk. The value of an alternative analytic framework, based on a culturally local, or emic, perspective on how bodies are perceived is demonstrated through the use of a cultural models approach exploring the relationship between culturally defined conceptualizations of body image and eating disorder risk. Understanding such relationships and the meanings attributed to the myriad aspects of body image through locally grounded frameworks provides an essential tool for investigators and clinicians to better understand the lived experience of body dissatisfaction and disordered eating, and also to inform more culturally salient approaches to diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. An emic approach that centers local perspectives and priorities also facilitates participation of communities underrepresented in research in knowledge production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescence is a vulnerable period for the development of eating disorders, but there are disparities in eating disorder risk among adolescents. One population that may be at increased risk but is vastly understudied, is adolescents residing in rural regions within the United States. Rural communities face many mental and physical health disparities; however, the literature on rural adolescent eating disorder risk is nearly nonexistent. In this paper we summarize the scant literature on disordered eating and eating disorder risk and prevalence among rural US adolescents. We also detail eating disorder risk factors that may have unique influence in this population, including socioeconomic status, food insecurity, healthcare access, body image, and weight stigma. Given the presence of numerous eating disorder risk factors, we speculate that rural adolescents may be a particularly vulnerable population for eating disorders and we propose critical next steps in research for understanding eating disorder risk among the understudied population of rural adolescents. Public Significance: Rural adolescents may be at increased risk for eating disorders due to disproportionate burden of known risk factors, though this relationship remains understudied. We present a summary of the literature on prevalence and unique risk factors, proposing that this may be a high‐risk population. We detail next steps for research to understand eating disorder risk in this population to inform future prevention, identification, and treatment efforts needed in this community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Journal of Eating Disorders is the property of Wiley-Blackwell 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.)

Objective: It is our sincere pleasure to introduce a special issue of the International Journal of Eating Disorders focused on eating disorders and related symptoms in male populations. Method: Contributions focused on three main themes among male populations: (a) the nature of eating disorder symptoms and recovery; (b) long‐term outcomes following eating disorders treatment; and (c) muscularity‐oriented symptoms of eating pathology. Results: The contributions to this special issue highlight the importance of better understanding how eating disorder symptoms manifest, may be maintained, and respond to treatment among male populations. Findings across the articles demonstrate some similarities between male and female samples with respect to core eating disorder symptoms, as well as important differences, particularly with respect to muscularity‐oriented disordered eating. Findings related to treatment outcome also highlight the suboptimal long‐term remission rates and elevated mortality among male inpatients with eating disorders. Discussion: The diverse range of samples, methodologies, and research questions addressed within this collection of papers demonstrates the breadth of the important scientific work on this topic. As eating disorders and related symptoms in male populations continue to be underrecognized and underserved, we hope that this special issue will encourage further high‐quality clinical research in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orthorexia nervosa is a new syndrome that has seen a marked increase in research in the past decade. Very high prevalence estimates in non‐clinical populations have fuelled the debate as to whether it is a disorder in its own right, or only a problem when occurring in the context of another mental health or eating disorder. More recent assessment instruments have gone some way to address this issue. However, He et al.'s (2020, International Journal of Eating Disorder) study in older East Asian persons was not supportive of orthorexia nervosa as a disorder. Rather, people with orthorexia nervosa had better physical and mental health and lower or similar levels of eating disorder features such as body dissatisfaction when compared with people who did not have orthorexia nervosa. Albeit that selection bias in participant recruitment may in part explain their findings, the status of orthorexia nervosa is unresolved. Further studies need to employ appropriate instruments that measure psychopathology and function more broadly and investigate people with orthorexia nervosa symptoms in representative populations with longitudinal designs. The last is critical, as the most compelling evidence supporting a disorder is to find an adverse health impact over time that can be avoided by appropriate intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Journal of Eating Disorders is the property of Wiley-Blackwell 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.)

Objective: Fat talking has been assumed to be a causal risk factor for body dissatisfaction in a number of prevention programs and body confidence campaigns. The aim of this paper was to assess whether fat talking meets three criteria necessary for causal risk factors, namely whether fat talking is: (a) cross-sectionally associated with body dissatisfaction; (b) prospectively associated with changes in body dissatisfaction; and (c) associated with changes in body dissatisfaction in experimental studies., Method: A systematic literature review was conducted using electronic databases and hand searching of relevant journals. Meta-analyses provided pooled effect size estimates, and meta-regressions were used to determine whether age, gender or risk of bias were effect modifiers of the relationship., Results: Searches revealed 24 studies. There was a significant cross-sectional association (r = 0.297, 95% CI = 0.225-0.349), which differed in strength between age groups and genders. There was a prospective association between fat talking and changes in body dissatisfaction in long term (r = 0.144, 95% CI = 0.050-0.234), but not in short-term studies (r = 0.022, 95% CI = -0.131-0.174). One study showed that experimental exposure to fat talking was associated with increases in body dissatisfaction (d = 0.124)., Discussion: As such, there is good evidence that fat talking is a correlate of body dissatisfaction. The few prospective and experimental studies give an initial indication that fat talking is a causal risk factor for body dissatisfaction. Further work is needed to support this position., (Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Objective: This paper examines the association between weight overestimation and symptoms of disordered eating behaviors using a nationally representative sample of young women., Method: We use data from Wave III of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health to compare self-reported weight (in pounds) to measure weight obtained by interviewers using a scale. Focusing on normal weight women between the ages of 18 and 24 (n = 2,805) we compare the discrepancy in self-reported and measured weight among women with and without any disordered eating behaviors., Results: Women who over report their weight by at least five percent are significantly more likely than those who either under report or accurately report their weights to exhibit disordered eating behaviors. These results persist despite controlling for distorted body image., Conclusion: Our findings support both motivational and perceptual bias explanations for overestimating weight among those who exhibit disordered eating behaviors. We argue that weight over-estimation, together with other important information regarding women's nutrition, exercise, mental health, and health-related behaviors, should be treated as a potential indicator for the diagnosis of an eating disorder among young normal weight women., ((c) 2007 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Objective: Little is known about how female adolescent ballet dancers—a group at high‐risk for the development of body dissatisfaction and eating disorders—construct body ideals, and how their social identities interact with body ideals to confer risk for disordered eating. Using a novel body figure behavioral task, this study investigated (1) whether degree of body dissatisfaction corresponded to severity of disordered eating thoughts and behaviors, and (2) how ballet identity corresponded with ideal body figure size among adolescent ballet dancers. Methods: Participants were 188 female ballet dancers ages 13‐18 years who completed self‐report measures of study constructs and the behavioral task. Results: Linear regression models indicated that more severe body dissatisfaction was positively associated with increased disordered eating thoughts and behaviors (p <.19), except for muscle building (p =.32). We also found that identifying more strongly as a ballet dancer was correlated with having a smaller ideal body size (p =.017). Conclusion: Findings from this study suggest desire to achieve smaller body sizes is correlated with more severe disordered eating endorsement and stronger ballet identity. Instructors and clinicians may consider assessing the extent to which individuals identify as a ballet dancer as a risk factor for disordered eating and encourage adolescent dancers to build and nurture other identities beyond ballet. Public significance: Eating disorders are debilitating conditions that can lead to malnutrition, social isolation, and even premature death. Though disordered eating thoughts and behaviors can affect anyone, adolescents in physically demanding and body image‐driven activities including ballet dance are particularly vulnerable. Investigating how factors like body dissatisfaction and strength of identity are associated with disordered eating among high‐risk groups is crucial for developing effective prevention and intervention methods that minimize harm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Describe health service utilization in women veterans with eating disorder symptoms and characterize the nature of mental health services received. Method: Women veterans (N = 191) in a northeastern Veterans Health Administration region completed the Eating Disorders Examination Questionnaire. Health service utilization was then observed for 5 years across multiple domains (i.e., mental health, primary care, telephone consultations, emergency services); negative binomial or zero‐inflated negative binomial regression models (mental health) estimated the relative impact of reported eating disorder symptoms on health service utilization. Results: After adjusting for the effects of age and body mass index, higher eating disorder symptoms were associated with higher primary care, mental health services, and telephone consultations. Eating disorder diagnoses were infrequent across the sample. Discussion: Women veterans with higher self‐reported eating disorder symptoms evidence higher health service utilization across common healthcare domains. Encounter data suggest that eating disorder symptoms are rarely identified or clinically addressed by providers. Existing mental health visits may represent an opportunity for selective screening for eating disorder symptoms, particularly among women who evidence known risk factors. Public Significance: This study reveals that women veterans with higher levels of eating disorder symptoms (e.g., dietary restriction, poor body image) use more primary care, mental health, and telephone consultations than others, but may not receive services that target disordered eating. Opportunities may exist to better identify eating disorder symptoms in the context of existing mental health visits, or potentially to combine treatment for eating disorder symptoms into their mental health care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Latent class or latent profile analysis (LPA) studies in patients with eating disorders consistently identify a low‐weight, restrictive eating subgroup that does not endorse weight/shape concerns. To date, similar studies in samples unselected for disordered eating symptoms have not identified a high restriction‐low weight/shape concerns group, which may be due to a lack of inclusion of measures of dietary restriction. Method: We conducted an LPA using data from 1623 college students (54% female) recruited across three different studies. The Eating Pathology Symptoms Inventory Body Dissatisfaction, Cognitive Restraint, Restricting, and Binge Eating subscales were used as indicators, and body mass index, gender, and dataset were covaried. Purging, excessive exercise, emotion dysregulation, and harmful alcohol use were compared across resulting clusters. Results: Fit indices supported a 10‐class solution, including five disordered eating groups (largest to smallest): "Elevated General Disordered Eating", "Body Dissatisfied Binge Eating," "Most Severe General Disordered Eating," "Non‐Body Dissatisfied Binge Eating," and "Non‐Body Dissatisfied Restriction." The "Non‐Body Dissatisfied Restriction" group scored as low on other measures of traditional eating pathology and harmful alcohol use as non‐disordered eating groups but scored as high on a measure of emotion dysregulation as other disordered eating groups. Discussion: This study is the first to identify a latent restrictive eating group that does not endorse traditional disordered eating cognitions in an unselected sample of undergraduate students. Results underscore the importance of using measures of disordered eating behaviors without implied motivation to capture overlooked problematic eating patterns in the population that are distinct from our "traditional" understanding of disordered eating. Public Significance: We identified a group of individuals with high levels of restrictive eating but low body dissatisfaction and intent to diet in an unselected adult sample of men and women. Results underscore the need to investigate restrictive eating outside of the traditional lens of body shape concerns. Findings also suggest that individuals with nontraditional eating difficulties may struggle with emotion dysregulation, putting them at risk of poor psychological and relational outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Journal of Eating Disorders is the property of Wiley-Blackwell 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.)

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of a 10‐min self‐compassion writing in alleviating body dissatisfaction, self‐objectification, and emotional eating in young adult women engaged in emotional eating in the context of appearance‐related cyberbullying. Method: A total of 175 Chinese young adult women (Mage = 20.90, SD = 1.65) were randomly assigned to one of the three groups: self‐compassion, distraction, or control group. At baseline, participants completed assessments of trait and state body dissatisfaction, trait self‐objectification, trait self‐compassion, emotional eating, and positive and negative affect. Then they needed to recall an appearance‐related cyberbullying victimization experience, after which state body dissatisfaction, state self‐objectification, and positive and negative affect were measured. After the intervention, participants completed measures of state body dissatisfaction, state self‐objectification, positive and negative affect, state self‐compassion, and a food‐choosing task. At 1‐month follow‐up, participants completed measures of trait body dissatisfaction, trait self‐objectification, trait self‐compassion, and emotional eating. Results: At post‐intervention, state body dissatisfaction and negative affect were significantly lower, and positive affect was significantly higher in both the self‐compassion and distraction groups compared to control. State self‐objectification was significantly lower in the self‐compassion group than in the other two groups. At 1‐month follow‐up, the self‐compassion group showed significantly lower levels of body dissatisfaction than the control group. Discussion: The findings provide initial evidence for the potential of self‐compassion writing in reducing state self‐objectification and state body dissatisfaction in the context of appearance‐related cyberbullying. Public Significance: Appearance‐related cyberbullying, a common phenomenon in social networking sites, has been documented to associate with appearance‐related concerns and disordered eating in young adult women. However, effective interventions that can reduce these negative associations are scarce. This study preliminarily found that a brief self‐compassion writing could be a potential intervention for reducing state self‐objectification and state body dissatisfaction in young adult women who had suffered appearance‐related cyberbullying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Journal of Eating Disorders is the property of Wiley-Blackwell 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.)

Objective: To develop and internally validate risk prediction models for adolescent onset and persistence of eating disorders. Methods: N = 963 Australian adolescents (11–19 years) in the EveryBODY Study cohort completed online surveys in 2018 and 2019. Models were built to predict 12‐month risk of (1) onset, and (2) persistence of a DSM‐5 eating disorder. Results: Onset Model. Of the n = 687 adolescents without an eating disorder at baseline, 16.9% were identified with an eating disorder after 12 months. The prediction model was based on evidence‐based risk factors for eating disorder onset available within the dataset (sex, body mass index percentile, strict weight loss dieting, history of bullying, psychological distress, weight/shape concerns). This model showed fair discriminative performance (mean AUC =.75). The most important factors were psychological distress, weight and shape concerns, and female sex. Diagnostic Persistence Model. Of the n = 276 adolescents with an eating disorder at baseline, 74.6% were identified as continuing to meet criteria for an eating disorder after 12 months. The prediction model for diagnostic persistence was based on available evidence‐based risk factors for eating disorder persistence (purging, distress, social impairment). This model showed poor discriminative performance (mean AUC =.65). The most important factors were psychological distress and self‐induced vomiting for weight control. Discussion: We found preliminary evidence for the utility of a parsimonious model for 12‐month onset of an eating disorder among adolescents in the community. Future research should include additional evidence‐based risk factors and validate models beyond the original sample. Public Significance: This study demonstrated the feasibility of developing parsimonious and accurate models for the prediction of future onset of an eating disorder among adolescents. The most important predictors in this model included psychological distress and weight and shape concerns. This study has laid the ground work for future research to build and test more accurate prediction models in diverse samples, prior to translation into a clinical tool for use in real world settings to aid decisions about referral to early intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This paper interprets eating disorders (including anorexia and bulimia) as one (nonfunctional) manifestation, in modern environments, of evolved psychological mechanisms which modulate the standard of feminine bodily attractiveness as a response to economic conditions., Method: Published evidence from anthropology, sociology, and psychology was used to evaluate predictions that (1) where economic independence is possible, women favor a slender standard and (2) where women lack economic power, marriage tends to be favored and the standard becomes more curvaceous. These patterns were tested by correlating U.S. economic data with changing standards of bodily curvaceousness in Vogue and Playboy. Psychological and biological mechanisms by which the slender standard produces anorexia and bulimia were examined., Results: Published evidence and the empirical data suggest that the standard of bodily curvaceousness is determined by the economics of reproduction., Discussion: These ideas permit integration of the research on eating disorders in several disciplines and suggest many avenues for future enquiry.

Objective: The Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ) is a useful measure of weight and shape concern. The purpose of this study is to contribute new psychometric information on the BSQ in order to assist clinicians and researchers who intend to use this measure., Method: This paper reports average scores on American samples of clinical subjects referred for body image problems, obese persons seeking weight reduction, and nonclinical samples of college students and adults., Results and Discussion: The BSQ demonstrated good test-retest reliability, concurrent validity with other measures of body image, and criterion validity for clinical status.

Community-based prospective studies are needed to shed light on mechanisms that may influence development of eating disorders and identify variables that could serve as potential targets for prevention efforts. In this paper we examine level of weight preoccupation and other variables prospectively associated with age of onset of eating disorder symptoms over a 3-year interval in a community sample (N = 939) of young adolescent girls. 3.6% (32/887) experienced onset of symptoms over the interval. Only one factor, a measure of Weight Concerns, was significantly associated with onset (p < .001). Girls scoring in the highest quartile on the measure of Weight Concerns had the shortest survival time (12% incidence by age 14.5) and those scoring in the lowest quartile had the highest survival time (2% incidence by age 14.5; p < .001). This finding is consistent with both theoretical and clinical perspectives and represents one of the first prospective demonstrations of a linkage between weight and body shape concerns and later onset of eating disorder symptoms. An understanding of the independent variables that predispose gifts to development of symptoms is a useful step towards the establishment of a rational basis for the choice of a prevention intervention target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DSM-III-R provides a persistent overconcern with body shape and weight as a necessary criterion for the diagnosis of bulimia nervosa. This paper provides a theoretical argument in support of retaining this criterion. Initial empirical studies using a structured interview to assess weight and shape concerns, support the value of this criterion as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three different methods were used to study perceptual disorders of body image in 36 anorexia nervosa patients and 35 age-matched ballet/gymnastics pupils: (1) a video distortion of width of head and whole body of the subject; (2) a modification of the Image Marking Procedure first described by Askevold (1975); and (3) the Body Image Screening Scale, a paper-pencil vers/on (not in a scale of 1:1, but diminished) of (2) (Fichter & Meermann, 1981). Concerning the video task (1), both groups under investigation show underestimation of their own body dimensions (head, whole body ‘en face,’ whole body ‘en profile’) and of a female dummy. Underestimation seems to be due to the method used. For the other techniques (2,3), we found the known overestimation of body dimensions in anorexia nervosa patients. But the ballet/gymnastics pupils show overestimation as well. Anorexia nervosa patients show significantly higher overestimation in both techniques only for the thighs, calves, and hips. In neither task 1 nor task 3 were there significant differences found between patients and pupils in estimating the size of a female dummy, confirming that our methods deliver information about body image disturbances and not about a more general perceptual disorder including external objects. The diagnostic and therapeutic implications of body image disturbances in anorexia nervosa are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we attempt to explore the unique meaning of the body for the bulimic patient. In contrast with Selvini-Palazzoli's view of the body as a persecutory object in anorexia nervosa, we suggest that a more primitive meaning or function underlies the role of the body in bulimia. Specifically the body becomes a transitional object, a vehicle for the representing of the maternal object and then the repudiation of her. A synthesis of the cognitive and object relations lines of development is presented to elucidate this role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Binge‐eating disorder involves overeating while feeling a loss of control (LOC). Emotions around LOC appear to vary; some patients fear LOC whereas others feel powerless or "resigned" to LOC. This study examined differences in psychopathology among treatment‐seeking patients with binge‐eating disorder categorized with fear of LOC, resignation to LOC, and no fear/resignation of LOC. Method: Doctoral research clinicians administered diagnostic and semistructured interviews to characterize psychopathology and establish a diagnosis of binge‐eating disorder in participants (N = 382). The interview assessed fear of LOC in the past month. Further queries assessed whether, in the absence of fear of LOC, patients were resigned to LOC or had no fear/resignation. Results: Patients with fear of LOC and resigned to LOC endorsed significantly greater global eating‐disorder psychopathology than patients with no fear/resignation. Patients with fear of LOC reported greater distress about binge eating and greater depression than those with no fear/resignation. Patients resigned to LOC reported significantly more frequent binge‐eating episodes than those with fear of LOC and no fear/resignation. Black individuals and men were more likely to report no fear/resignation than other demographic groups. Discussion: This study describes a novel clinical aspect of binge‐eating disorder: resignation to LOC. Findings highlight the importance of including anticipatory cognitive‐affective experiences in treatment formulations and planning. Future research should examine co‐occurrence of these experiences and their association with impairment. Future research should also examine how fear of LOC and resignation to LOC change during treatment and whether they predict or moderate treatment outcomes. Public Significance: Adults with binge‐eating disorder have anticipatory cognitive‐affective experiences about loss of control (LOC) over eating (i.e., fear of LOC, resigned to LOC, no fear nor resignation of LOC). Individuals who experience fear of LOC and those who are resigned to LOC had more severe psychopathology than those without fear/resignation. Binge‐eating disorder has the highest prevalence of the eating disorders; thus, findings have high public significance in guiding clinicians' treatment planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Multilevel treatment barriers prevent up to 80% of individuals experiencing eating disorders (EDs) from accessing care. This treatment gap creates a critical need to identify interventions that are accessible, easily completable, and optimized for effectiveness by targeting core mechanisms linked to ED onset and maintenance. We propose single‐session interventions (SSIs) as a promising path toward catalyzing innovation in the development of accessible, effective ED interventions. SSIs are structured programs that intentionally involve one encounter with a program or provider; they may serve as stand‐alone or adjunctive clinical supports. All SSIs are built to acknowledge that any session might be someone's last—and that any single session can nonetheless yield meaningful clinical benefit. Method: We define SSIs, summarize research supporting their utility for ED symptoms and other mental health problems, and recommend future directions for work in this domain. Results: Single‐session interventions may hold promise to reduce some ED symptoms and risk factors, including restrictive eating and negative body image. Steps toward realizing this promise include (1) testing whether existing evidence‐based SSIs (e.g., for depression) can also reduce EDs, risk factors, and symptoms; (2) developing novel SSIs that target modifiable ED risk factors and symptoms largely unaddressed by SSIs, such as purging and binge eating; (3) studying diverse implementation pathways; (4) capitalizing on SSIs' transdiagnostic utility to broaden funding opportunities; and (5) educating ED researchers and clinicians about SSIs. Discussion: Understanding the strengths and limits of mechanism‐targeted SSIs for ED‐related problems could be a low‐risk, high‐reward avenue toward reducing EDs at scale. Public Significance: Most individuals experiencing EDs never access any form of treatment, creating an urgent need to identify ED interventions built to overcome barriers to engaging with care. This Forum article introduces SSIs as a promising path to rapidly developing and testing accessible, evidence‐based ED supports; supplementing existing ED treatment models; and reducing the individual, familial, and societal burdens of EDs at scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In adolescents and adults, the co‐occurrence of eating disorders and overweight or obesity is continuing to increase, and the prevalence of eating disorders is higher in people with higher weight compared to those with lower weight. People with an eating disorder with higher weight are more likely to present for weight loss than for eating disorder treatment. However, there are no clinical practice guidelines on how to screen, assess, and monitor eating disorder risk in the context of obesity treatment. In this article, we first summarize current challenges and knowledge gaps related to the identification and assessment of eating disorder risk and symptoms in people with higher weight seeking obesity treatment. Specifically, we discuss considerations relating to the validation of current self‐report measures, dietary restraint, body dissatisfaction, binge eating, and how change in eating disorder risk can be measured in this setting. Second, we propose avenues for further research to guide the development and implementation of clinical and research protocols for the identification and assessment of eating disorders in people with higher weight in the context of obesity treatment. Public Significance: The number of people with both eating disorders and higher weight is increasing. Currently, there is little guidance for clinicians and researchers about how to identify and monitor risk of eating disorders in people with higher weight. We present limitations of current research and suggest future avenues for research to enhance care for people living with higher weight with eating disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The network approach has emerged as a useful framework for conceptualizing and investigating psychopathology, including eating disorders. Network connectivity, that is, the density of the connections among network nodes, has been somewhat neglected despite its theoretical relevance. As predicted by network theory, symptom connectivity would be distinct but related to symptom severity and may be a useful clinical indicator of psychopathology as stronger and/or more diffuse connections among symptoms offer more avenues for symptom activation. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between moment‐by‐moment individual‐level symptom connectivity and global levels of symptom severity in the context of eating disorder symptoms and experiences. Methods: A sample of 58 female undergraduate college students, mean (SD) age = 20.5 (3.1) provided data on eating disorder symptoms eight times a day over the course of 10 days. Network analyses were used to calculate the eating disorder symptoms network connectivity for each participant. In addition, participants completed survey of self‐report measures of eating disorder symptom severity and trait mindfulness and body image flexibility. Results: Analyses revealed a moderate, positive relationship between individual network connectivity and eating disorder symptom severity. In addition, symptom connectivity predicted unique variance of symptom severity even after controlling for other clinically‐relevant variables. Conclusions: Individual‐level network connectivity may be an important dimension of psychopathology and further work exploring the role of network connectivity is warranted. Public Significance: These findings suggest that symptom severity and the extent to which different eating disorder symptoms are connected are related but different dimensions. Investigating how these different dimensions play a role in eating disorder pathology could help to better understand and treat these disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Journal of Eating Disorders is the property of Wiley-Blackwell 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.)

Objective: Momentary worsening (i.e., greater than one's average levels) of state body dissatisfaction (BD) has been implicated as a proximal risk factor for eating disorder (ED) behaviors in binge‐spectrum EDs. Yet, research exploring the prospective association between noneating activities in daily life (e.g., chores, self‐care/coping) and momentary state BD remains limited. Understanding the momentary link between engagement in noneating activities and state BD, and pathways through which engagement in said activities influences momentary state BD is critical to informing treatments. The current ecological momentary assessment (EMA) study examined whether (1) engagement in noneating activities at Time 1 prospectively predicted momentary state BD at Time 2 and (2) reward drawn from noneating activities at Time 1 mediates the prospective association between engagement in noneating activities at Time 1 and momentary state BD at Time 2. Method: Sixty‐six adults with transdiagnostic binge eating completed an EMA protocol over 7–14 days. Participants received six EMA signals per day (total EMA observations = 4038). Multilevel modeling was used to examine the research questions. Results: Engagement in an indoor hobby, outdoor recreation, socializing, and self‐care/coping strategies prospectively predicted momentary state BD improvements, while using TV/social media and cooking prospectively predicted momentary state BD worsening. Reward drawn from engagement in these noneating activities mediated the associations. Discussion: If replicated, these findings suggest that increasing the frequency of certain noneating activities and enhancing their rewarding aspects to improve state BD and decrease ED behavior risk during treatment may be worthy of further exploration. Public Significance: Momentary worsening of state body dissatisfaction (BD) is a risk factor for eating disorder behaviors in individuals with binge eating. This study found that engaging in certain noneating activities (e.g., socializing) prospectively predicted momentary improvements in state BD, while other noneating activities (e.g., cooking) predicted momentary worsening of state BD. Reward drawn from activities mediated these relations. To improve state BD, treatments should target the frequency of, and reward obtained from these noneating activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Engaging in romantic relationships in adolescence may inadvertently increase participation in appearance culture and the risk for eating pathology. Little research has considered this effect, particularly as it relates to adolescents' gender identity and sexual attraction. Therefore, this study examined the associations among relationship status, gender, and sexual attraction in adolescents' eating pathology. Methods: Data from the first wave of the EveryBODY study, a large sample of Australian adolescents aged 11–19 years (n = 3262, Mage = 15.00, 53.80% girls), were used. Participants reported their relationship status and eating pathology (fasting, purging, binge eating, driven exercise, steroid use, and shape/weight concerns) using an online survey. Results: Logistic regressions adjusting for age and BMI percentile revealed that romantic relationships were associated with higher adjusted odds (AORs) for reporting clinical frequency/severity threshold of fasting, purging, steroid use, and shape and weight concerns (AORs: 1.34–3.68). Relative to boys, girls had higher adjusted odds of reporting clinical frequency/severity threshold of all eating disorder features (AORs: 1.47–7.40), except for steroid use for muscle gain. Adolescents who reported same‐sex attraction, were unsure of their sexual attraction, or did not endorse any sexual attraction had greater adjusted odds of reporting clinical frequency/severity threshold of fasting, purging, and shape and weight concerns (AORs: 1.35–1.83) than those with only other‐sex sexual attraction. Interactions among relationship status, gender, and sexual attraction were nonsignificant. Conclusions: Romantic experience emerged as a novel correlate for adolescents' eating pathology. Future research should uncover the contextual factors within relationships that may contribute to this association. Public Significance: The initiation of romantic relationships is normative during adolescence. However, adolescents' romantic desirability is often determined by their physical appearance, increasing the risk for eating pathology. Among a large sample of Australian adolescents, romantic involvement was associated with greater likelihood of clinical threshold eating pathology for adolescent boys and girls, regardless of sexual attraction. It is urgent to identify the factors within romantic relationships that are associated with eating pathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The use of videoconferencing has increased during the pandemic, creating prolonged exposure to self‐image. This research aimed to investigate whether eating disorder (ED) risk was associated with videoconferencing performance for work or study and to explore whether the use of safety behaviors and self‐focused attention mediated the relationship between ED risk and perceived control over performance anxiety, impaired engagement, or avoidance of videoconferencing for work or study. Method: In 2020, an online survey was distributed within Australia to those aged over 18 years via academic and social networks, measuring: use of videoconferencing for work/study, demographics, ED risk, safety behaviors for appearance concerns, self‐focused attention, perceived control over performance anxiety, perceived engagement impairment, and avoidance of videoconferencing. A total of 640 participants (77.3% female, Mage = 26.2 years) returned complete data and were included in analyses. Results: 245 participants (38.7%) were considered at‐risk for EDs (SCOFF > 2). Those at‐risk reported significantly more safety behaviors, self‐focused attention, impaired engagement, and avoidance, plus lower perceived control over performance anxiety than those not at‐risk. Multiple mediation models found the effects of ED risk on control over performance anxiety, impaired engagement, and avoidance were partially mediated by safety behaviors and self‐focused attention. Discussion: Our cross‐sectional findings suggest videoconferencing for work/study‐related purposes is associated with performance anxiety, impaired engagement, and avoidance among individuals at‐risk for EDs. Poorer videoconferencing outcomes appear more strongly related to social anxiety variables than ED status. Clinicians and educators may need to provide extra support for those using videoconferencing. Public Significance: Because videoconferencing often involves seeing your own image (via self‐view) we wondered whether the appearance concerns experienced by those with eating disorders (EDs) might interfere with the ability to focus on or to contribute to work/study videoconferencing meetings. We found that although those with EDs experience more impairments in their videoconferencing engagement/contribution, these were linked just as strongly to social anxiety as they were to appearance concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In the tripartite influence model, appearance‐ideal internalization is identified as a prominent risk factor for the development of body dissatisfaction and subsequent eating disorder (ED) behaviors. For men, prior research has emphasized the importance of both thin‐ideal internalization and muscular‐ideal internalization in explaining later ED behaviors and muscle dysmorphia (MD) symptoms. Previous research in heterosexual men has shown that the associations between muscular‐ideal internalization and ED or MD symptoms may depend on whether the individual has also internalized the thin ideal. However, this interaction has not been examined in research with sexual minority men (SMM). Method: The current study collected self‐report data from 452 at risk SMM (i.e., endorsed body dissatisfaction), with ages ranging from 18 to 35 years. Linear regression models were conducted to test the interaction effects between thinness and muscularity internalization on ED symptoms, MD behaviors, and general body dissatisfaction. Simple slopes and the Johnson–Neyman technique were used to investigate significant interaction terms. Results: Thin‐ and muscular‐ideal internalization were positively associated with muscular appearance intolerance and dietary restriction with no significant interaction. Muscular drive for size was highest when both muscularity internalization and thinness internalization were high. Muscular‐ideal internalization was positively associated with both cognitive restraint and general body dissatisfaction, but only at lower levels of thinness internalization. Discussion: Given the interacting association between thinness and muscularity internalization and aspects of body dissatisfaction, attitudes, and behavior, prevention and intervention programs for EDs and MDs in SMM should seek to dismantle both thinness and muscularity internalization. Public Significance Statement: Internalizing—or adopting as one's own—the ideal of a body with low body fat and high muscularity has been shown to lead to muscle dysmorphia and eating disorder symptoms in men. The current study examines whether the combination of thin‐ideal and muscular‐ideal internalization is associated with worse symptoms than either facet alone in sexual minority men. Treatment efforts in sexual minority men should address both types of internalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: As network models of eating disorder (ED) psychopathology become increasingly popular in modeling symptom interconnectedness and identifying potential treatment targets, it is necessary to contextualize their performance against other methods of modeling ED psychopathology and to evaluate potential ways to optimize and capitalize on their use. To accomplish these goals, we used generalized network psychometrics to estimate and compare latent variable models and network models, as well as hybrid models. Method: We tested the structure of the Eating Pathology Symptoms Inventory (EPSI) and Eating Disorder Examination‐Questionnaire (EDE‐Q) in Recovery Record, Inc. mobile phone application users (N = 6856). Results: Although all models fit well, results favored a hybrid latent variable and network framework, which showed that ED symptoms fit best when modeled as higher‐order constructs, rather than direct symptom‐to‐symptom connections, and when the relationships between those constructs are described as a network. Hybrid models in which latent factors were modeled as nodes within a network showed that EPSI Purging, Binge Eating, Cognitive Restraint, Body Dissatisfaction, and Excessive Exercise had high importance in the network. EDE‐Q Eating Concern and Shape Concern were also important nodes. Results showed that the EPSI network was highly stable and replicable, whereas the EDE‐Q network was not. Discussion: Integrating latent variable and network model frameworks enables tests of centrality to identify important latent variables, such as purging, that may promote the spread of ED psychopathology throughout a network, allowing for the identification of future treatment targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Eating disorders (EDs) often emerge in late adolescence. Schools are ideal settings for prevention programs; however, cost and time limit implementation. Microinterventions may overcome these challenges. This study adapted two microinterventions (cognitive dissonance, self‐compassion) and assessed feasibility and acceptability among mid‐adolescents to provide proof‐of‐concept for further investigation. Method: Feedback from staff (n = 5) and student (n = 15) focus groups contributed iteratively to the adaptation of intervention materials. Students in Grade 10 and 11 (N = 101, Mage = 15.80, SD = 0.68) were then randomly allocated by class to a 20‐min video‐based cognitive‐dissonance or self‐compassion intervention, accessed on their school devices. ED risk and protective factors were assessed at baseline, immediate postintervention (state outcomes), and 1‐week follow‐up (trait outcomes). Acceptability items were included at both timepoints. Results: Implementation was deemed feasible. Girls generally reported greater acceptability than boys. Among girls, the self‐compassion intervention demonstrated greater acceptability. Among boys, some aspects of acceptability (e.g., lesson endorsement, utilization of techniques) were rated higher in the cognitive dissonance group whereas other aspects (e.g., understanding, interest) were greater in the self‐compassion group. All groups exhibited favorable changes in most state outcomes, however trait outcome change was varied. Discussion: Microinterventions provide a feasible way of implementing prevention strategies in a time‐poor educational context. Future large‐scale evaluation is warranted to determine efficacy, following modifications based on current findings. Public Significance: This study shows promising feasibility and acceptability of two brief, self‐guided video‐based lessons (microinterventions) for adolescents in school classrooms, that use psychological techniques to target appearance pressures as a key risk factor for eating disorders. Such interventions are easier to implement in school settings than longer, facilitator‐led interventions, to encourage greater uptake and ongoing use. Findings support further research to evaluate effectiveness, to ultimately provide accessible and gender‐inclusive tools for busy schools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Journal of Eating Disorders is the property of Wiley-Blackwell 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.)

Objective: The COVID‐19 pandemic led to a transition to the utilization of video chatting services as the main form of communication for work, family, and friends. However, the repercussions of this change are not fully known, and issues regarding appearance satisfaction are particularly salient. The purpose of the current study was to examine the relationship between video chatting and appearance satisfaction in a sample of men and women. Method: The current study utilizes cross‐sectional data from 618 participants (Age: M = 33.2; 54.1% women) to evaluate whether average video chat usage predicts appearance satisfaction, and whether this association is dependent upon appearance comparison or self‐objectification. Results: Results indicated that individuals who spent more time video chatting reported higher appearance satisfaction. Additionally, appearance comparison and self‐objectification were not significant moderators, and the association between video chat usage and appearance satisfaction did not differ based on gender. Usage of the touch‐up feature, gallery view, and amount of time spent looking at oneself were associated with appearance comparisons, while adjusting lighting and camera angles and amount of time spent looking at oneself were associated with self‐objectification. Discussion: The results may indicate that while overall time spent video chatting may be associated with lower appearance concerns, examination of the usage of specific features on video chatting platforms may be important to assess in the future. Public Significance: This study demonstrates that overall time spent video chatting may be associated with lower appearance concerns. The usage, however, of specific features on video chatting platforms, such as touch‐up feature, gallery view, and amount of time spent looking at oneself were associated with appearance comparisons. Additionally, adjusting lighting and camera angles, and amount of time spent looking at oneself are associated with self‐objectification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Journal of Eating Disorders is the property of Wiley-Blackwell 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.)

Objective: Prevention of eating disorders (EDs) is of high importance. However, digital programs with human moderation are unlikely to be disseminated widely. The aim of this study was to test whether a chatbot (i.e., computer program simulating human conversation) would significantly reduce ED risk factors (i.e., weight/shape concerns, thin‐ideal internalization) in women at high risk for an ED, compared to waitlist control, as well as whether it would significantly reduce overall ED psychopathology, depression, and anxiety and prevent ED onset. Method: Women who screened as high risk for an ED were randomized (N = 700) to (1) chatbot based on the StudentBodies© program; or (2) waitlist control. Participants were followed for 6 months. Results: For weight/shape concerns, there was a significantly greater reduction in intervention versus control at 3‐ (d = −0.20; p =.03) and 6‐m‐follow‐up (d = −0.19; p =.04). There were no differences in change in thin‐ideal internalization. The intervention was associated with significantly greater reductions than control in overall ED psychopathology at 3‐ (d = −0.29; p =.003) but not 6‐month follow‐up. There were no differences in change in depression or anxiety. The odds of remaining nonclinical for EDs were significantly higher in intervention versus control at both 3‐ (OR = 2.37, 95% CI [1.37, 4.11]) and 6‐month follow‐ups (OR = 2.13, 95% CI [1.26, 3.59]). Discussion: Findings provide support for the use of a chatbot‐based EDs prevention program in reducing weight/shape concerns through 6‐month follow‐up, as well as in reducing overall ED psychopathology, at least in the shorter‐term. Results also suggest the intervention may reduce ED onset. Public Significance: We found that a chatbot, or a computer program simulating human conversation, based on an established, cognitive‐behavioral therapy‐based eating disorders prevention program, was successful in reducing women's concerns about weight and shape through 6‐month follow‐up and that it may actually reduce eating disorder onset. These findings are important because this intervention, which uses a rather simple text‐based approach, can easily be disseminated in order to prevent these deadly illnesses. Trial registration: OSF Registries; https://osf.io/7zmbv [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: No study to date has investigated an intervention program for male athletes that targets eating disorder risk factors. The purpose of this study was to measure the effects of the Male Athlete Body Project (MABP), an adaptation of the Female Athlete Body Project on body dissatisfaction, drive for muscularity, body‐ideal internalization, and muscle dysmorphia. Method: Participants were 79 male collegiate athletes who were randomized to the MABP (n = 39) or an assessment‐only control condition (n = 40). All participants completed psychometrically validated measures at three time points: baseline, post‐treatment (3 weeks after baseline for the control condition), and 1‐month follow‐up. Results: Hierarchical Linear Modeling assessed differences between conditions across time. Interaction effects revealed that participation in the MABP improved satisfaction with specific body parts and reduced drive for muscularity and body‐ideal internalization at post‐treatment compared to a control group. Athletes in the MABP also reported increased body areas satisfaction and reductions in drive for muscularity at 1‐month follow‐up. Reductions in supplement use were observed at 1‐month follow‐up only. Discussion: This study provides preliminary evidence of the efficacy of the MABP in reducing some eating disorder risk factors up to 1 month after the intervention; follow‐up study considerations are discussed. Clinical Trial Registration Number: NCT04077177 Public Significance: This study highlights the importance of eating disorder and body image intervention efforts for male athletes. Findings suggest that male college athletes who attended a 3‐session group intervention based on a well‐established program for college women experienced an increase in satisfaction with specific body areas and a reduction in some eating disorder risk factors (e.g., drive for muscularity, supplement use, and body‐ideal internalization) compared to a control group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Depression is a leading cause of disability among adolescents, yet existing treatments are variably effective, suggesting needs to identify novel intervention targets. Body dissatisfaction (BD) may be a promising, but understudied, target: BD is common among adolescents; prospectively associated with future depression; and modifiable through intervention. BD interventions are typically evaluated in terms of impacts on eating disorders, but many trials also measure depression‐related secondary outcomes. However, BD intervention effects on depression have not been systematically examined. We, therefore, conducted a meta‐analysis to estimate secondary effects of BD interventions on depression symptoms and related outcomes in adolescents (ages 12–19). Method: Our systematic review included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between January 2006 and December 2020. Across‐group effect sizes were analyzed using robust variance estimation. Preregistered methods, data, and analytic code are available at https://osf.io/734n8/. Results: The meta‐analysis included 13 RCTs, 50 effect sizes, and 6,962 participants. BD interventions led to significant postintervention reductions in depression‐related outcomes versus control conditions (g = −0.19 at postintervention, 95% confidence interval: −0.07, −0.31, p =.005). No evidence emerged for moderators of this meta‐analytic effect. Discussion: Overall, BD‐focused interventions significantly reduced adolescent depression, with mean postintervention effect sizes comparable to those observed for interventions targeting depression explicitly. Results are bolstered by preregistered methods and robustness checks. Limitations include a lack of data on participants' sexual and gender identities and a significant risk of bias in the underlying literature. Future research on BD interventions should measure depression symptom severity as a secondary outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Preoccupation (excessive and constant thoughts) about shape/weight and food/eating is thought to be prominent in individuals with eating disorders but has received much less research than overt behavioral features. This study examined the significance and distinctiveness of different foci of preoccupation in individuals categorized with different forms of eating disorders and in individuals with higher weight. Method: Participants (N = 1,363) completed a web‐based survey with established measures of eating‐disorder psychopathology and depression. The current study compared preoccupation among individuals with core features of bulimia nervosa (BN; n = 144), binge‐eating disorder (BED; n = 576), anorexia nervosa (AN; n = 48), and higher body weight (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 25) without eating‐disorder features (higher weight [HW]; n = 595). Associations of each type of preoccupation with other eating‐disorder psychopathology and depression were examined both between and within study groups. Results: Preoccupation with shape/weight and with food/eating showed a graded pattern of statistically significant differences: AN and BN had higher preoccupation than BED, which was higher than HW. Within BN, BED, and AN study groups, correlation magnitudes of shape/weight and food/eating preoccupation with eating‐disorder psychopathology and depression did not differ significantly. Within the HW group, shape/weight preoccupation was significantly more strongly correlated than food/eating preoccupation with overvaluation, body dissatisfaction, and depression. Discussion: The preoccupation cognitive style, as well as focus, appears associated with other facets of eating‐disorder psychopathology and depression. If results are confirmed among individuals with formal diagnoses, clinicians addressing maladaptive cognitions in cognitive‐behavioral therapy should consider the role of preoccupation. Future research should investigate whether preoccupation predicts or moderates eating disorder treatment outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Establishing factors that protect against the onset of eating disorder symptoms is needed to identify critical intervention targets to inform the design of more potent prevention programs. Knowledge of robust protective factors is lacking, which might account for the limited effectiveness of existing prevention programs. As positive body image, intuitive eating, and self‐compassion show protective potential, the present study tested whether these factors protect against the onset of a range of different eating disorder symptoms. Method: Data were analyzed from 1,270 women who completed study measures at baseline and 8 months. Logistic regressions tested whether, among initially asymptomatic women, baseline and changes in positive body image components (body appreciation, body image flexibility, and functionality appreciation), intuitive eating, and self‐compassion predicted the continued absence versus onset of seven core eating disorder symptoms at follow‐up. Results: Each of the five factors at baseline was associated with a lower odds of symptom onset for each outcome in univariate analyses. Baseline body appreciation and intuitive eating scores remained consistent, unique predictors of a lower odds of experiencing symptom onset in multivariate models. Greater increases in intuitive eating and body appreciation over time were the two factors consistently associated with a lower odds of symptom onset across several outcomes. Discussion: This study provides strong evidence for the protective influence of positive body image components, intuitive eating, and self‐compassion against several eating disorder symptoms. Building these factors within established prevention programs may, in the longer term, help reduce the incidence of eating disorder syndromes and symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study was designed to compare the change in eating‐disorder feature networks in patients with anorexia nervosa after treatment with intensive enhanced cognitive behavior therapy (CBT‐E). Methods: Patients seeking treatment for anorexia nervosa were consecutively recruited from January 2016 to September 2020. All patients aged ≥16 years who completed a 20‐week intensive CBT‐E program (13 weeks of inpatient followed by 7 weeks of day‐hospital treatment) were included in the study. Body mass index (BMI) was measured, and the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire completed for each patient, both at baseline and the end of treatment. Results: The sample comprised 214 patients with anorexia nervosa. Treated patients showed significant improvements in BMI and eating‐disorder psychopathology. Network analysis revealed a significant reduction in the network global and connection strengths at the end of treatment. The most central and highly interconnected nodes in the network at baseline were related to the drive for thinness, but at the end of treatment to body image concerns. Some edge connections were significantly stronger at baseline than at the end of treatment, while others were significantly stronger at the end of treatment than at baseline. Discussion: CBT‐E reduces the psychopathology network connectivity over time in patients with anorexia nervosa. The differences in central nodes and edge connections between baseline and end of treatment, not detected by classical inferential analysis, may be informative for understanding the centrality of symptoms in the psychopathology network, and how a specific treatment may act to reduce symptoms and change their connections over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reviews literature which focused on the issue of body image in boys. Association of distress with body image dissatisfaction; Correlation between body image satisfaction and various measures of self-esteem; Problem posed by using a single row of images of increasing size to assess boys' responses to body image questions.

Presents a study which assessed whether cultural ideals of the male body, as illustrated by `Playgirl' magazine, have changed from 1973 to 1997. Overview of studies on the evolution of society's ideals for the male body; Methodology used; Results and discussion.

Objective: Little research has investigated variables affecting the relationship between weight‐ or shape‐related bullying (WSB) and specific forms of disordered eating in adolescence. This study aimed to examine the relationship between WSB and eating disorder behaviors in Australian adolescents, and whether this relationship was moderated by body image attitudes. Method: Data were used from the first wave of the EveryBODY study, a survey of body image concerns and eating disorders in a large representative sample of Australian adolescents (N = 573), aged 11–19 years. Participants completed an online survey with measures of WSB frequency, body image attitudes (drives for thinness, leanness, and muscularity), and disordered eating behaviors. Results: Results indicated that frequency of WSB was positively associated with purging and muscularity‐oriented behavior (MOB), but not dietary restriction, binge eating, or compulsive exercise. The relationship between WSB and MOB was moderated by drive for muscularity, such that victimization frequency was positively associated with MOB for those with high, but not low, desire to attain a muscular physique. Discussion: Findings indicate that WSB is positively associated with purging and MOB but not other eating disorder behaviors, and that drive for muscularity moderates its effect on some behaviors. Understanding these relationships will be important in implementing tailored interventions for adolescents based on screening for victimization experiences and specific body image attitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]