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Weight suppression (WS), the difference in one's highest and current adult weight excluding pregnancy, is associated with eating disorder (ED) symptom onset and maintenance. There is increasing evidence that WS is related to ED symptoms in non-clinical samples, but there are no known studies examining the interaction of WS and current body mass index (BMI) in this group. History of overweight is common in those with EDs, and higher weight status often delays identification and treatment. This study examined the interaction of WS and current BMI on body dissatisfaction and eating pathology in undergraduate men and women. Undergraduates (N = 476) completed online surveys assessing current height and weight, weight history, and eating attitudes and behaviors. In women (n = 333), both BMI and WS were positively associated with body dissatisfaction, restraint, and global ED symptoms. In men (n = 143), there were no significant associations with BMI, but WS was related to greater body dissatisfaction, restraint, global ED symptoms, and loss-of-control eating. Moderation analyses revealed that the effect of current BMI on shape concern (p = .005), weight concern (p = .002), global ED symptoms (p = .01), and purging behaviors (p = .04) in women and restraint (p = .03) in men weakened at the highest levels of WS. Results suggest that WS is salient in a non-clinical sample and underscore the need to evaluate both weight history and the presence of disordered eating in individuals across the BMI spectrum.

Objective A pattern of disordered eating involving a pathological fixation with healthy food consumption, labeled orthorexia nervosa (ON), has recently generated attention; however, research has not yet investigated perceptions of ON-related behaviors. This study examined potential stigmatization of ON, compared with DSM-5 ED diagnoses. Method Participants (N = 505) were randomly assigned to read a vignette depicting a woman with anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), binge-eating disorder (BED), or ON. They then answered questions about the individual depicted in the vignette. A series of MANOVAs investigated whether opinions and beliefs about the person depicted varied as a function of the disorder described in the vignette. Results Individuals with ON were perceived as less likely to “improve with treatment” than individuals with BN, and less likely to “pull themselves together,” than individuals with BED. Individuals with ON and AN were viewed as “hard[er] to talk to” and more of a “danger to others” compared with individuals with BED. ON was viewed as less distressing, less likely to evoke sympathy, and more acceptable than the other disorders. Finally, “poor living choices” were perceived as contributing more substantially to ON. Participants' attributions of various personality characteristics did not differ based on ED diagnosis. Discussion Results suggest that ON is viewed as less severe, more desirable, and more often the result of personal life choices. However, findings also imply that ON is associated with stigma, similar to DSM-5 EDs. These negative attitudes might reinforce ON behaviors, and limit awareness of their potential complications.

Fitspiration is a relatively new social media trend nominally intended to promote health and fitness. Fitspiration messages are presented as encouraging; however, they might also engender body dissatisfaction and compulsive exercise. This study analyzed fitspiration content (n = 1050) on the image-based social media platform Pinterest. Independent raters coded the images and text present in the posts. Messages were categorized as appearance- or health-related, and coded for Social Cognitive Theory constructs: standards, behaviors, and outcome expectancies. Messages encouraged appearance-related body image standards and weight management behaviors more frequently than health-related standards and behaviors, and emphasized attractiveness as motivation to partake in such behaviors. Results also indicated that fitspiration messages include a comparable amount of fit praise (i.e., emphasis on toned/defined muscles) and thin praise (i.e., emphasis on slenderness), suggesting that women are not only supposed to be thin but also fit. Considering the negative outcomes associated with both exposure to idealized body images and exercising for appearance reasons, findings suggest that fitspiration messages are problematic, especially for viewers with high risk of eating disorders and related issues.

The current study adapted evidence-based prevention programs to promote positive health behaviors among racially and ethnically diverse young adult women. Two successful programs (The Body Project and the Healthy Weight Intervention) were integrated to evaluate their feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy in reducing risk for both eating pathology and weight gain. Intervention features extended the previous prevention efforts by emphasizing broad appearance ideals to enhance relevancy for women of color and incorporating distress tolerance and emotion regulation skills training. Individuals were excluded if they met criteria for an eating disorder diagnosis and/or obesity, as this was a prevention project. 27 young adult women participated (M age = 18.59; SD = 1.01). The following racial/ethnic groups were represented: 48.1% White, 25.9% Asian, 22.2% Black, and 3.7% Latina. After each meeting, participants completed satisfaction measures and therapists assessed intervention feasibility. Participants also completed comprehensive questionnaires at pretest (baseline), posttest (8 weeks), and 4-week follow-up. Descriptive statistics and content analyses of open-ended questions indicated that the intervention was both acceptable and feasible. Hierarchical linear models evaluating within-subject change over time indicated reductions in several risk factors that were sustained at follow-up: eating pathology, appearance dissatisfaction, thin-ideal internalization, restrained eating, negative affect, emotion dysregulation, and fat intake. BMI did not change from pretest to posttest; however, BMI increased from posttest to follow-up (mean weight increase = 0.34 kg). Results suggest that a prevention program designed to be more culturally sensitive is feasible and acceptable. Findings provide preliminary support for reducing the risk of eating pathology and promoting positive health behaviors. Time series with intervention, Level IV. ClinicalTrails.gov ID: NCT03317587.

Public health campaigns are often used to prevent or reduce obesity. However, social psychological theory suggests these efforts might not be universally helpful and could potentially have detrimental consequences. This investigation explored the effects of obesity prevention campaigns. Participants were randomized to view either weight-focused or weight-neutral campaigns. Assessments at three time points (pre, post, and follow-up) examined the differences between groups in reactions to campaigns and changes in health behaviors and psychological outcomes. Compared with weight-neutral campaigns, weight-focused campaigns were associated with increases in negative perceptions of obesity and decreases in self-efficacy for health behavior change.

Weight suppression (WS), the difference in one's highest weight (excluding pregnancy) and current weight at current height, is associated with the onset of eating disorders. Previous research has explored the influence of WS in predominantly clinical, female samples. However, the transition to college is a particularly high-risk time for weight gain and the development of eating pathology and men with eating disorders often have higher premorbid weights. This study investigated the associations of WS and dimensions of eating pathology in an undergraduate sample (N=859) and examined the effect of gender. Results demonstrated that higher levels of WS were associated with more dietary restraint (p=0.004) and more frequent purging behaviors (p

This study examined psychometric properties and baseline/post-treatment racial differences in the Child Feeding Questionnaire (CFQ) in parents of overweight/obese children in a randomized controlled obesity trial. Participants were 302 (n=285 mothers, n=17 fathers) diverse (n=207 Black, n=80 White), treatment-seeking parents of children (5-11 years) with overweight/obesity. CFQ data fit an established factor structure (Anderson et al, 2005) in the full sample and subsample of Black parents. Black parents had higher scores than White parents on only Pressure to Eat. The CFQ yields reliable and valid scores in a racially diverse treatment-seeking sample, suggesting its utility in culturally-sensitive pediatric obesity treatment.

The use of online calorie tracking applications and activity monitors is increasing exponentially. Anecdotal reports document the potential for these trackers to trigger, maintain, or exacerbate eating disorder symptomatology. Yet, research has not examined the relation between use of these devices and eating disorder-related attitudes and behaviors. This study explored associations between the use of calorie counting and fitness tracking devices and eating disorder symptomatology. Participants (N=493) were college students who reported their use of tracking technology and completed measures of eating disorder symptomatology. Individuals who reported using calorie trackers manifested higher levels of eating concern and dietary restraint, controlling for BMI. Additionally, fitness tracking was uniquely associated with ED symptomatology after adjusting for gender and bingeing and purging behavior within the past month. Findings highlight associations between use of calorie and fitness trackers and eating disorder symptomatology. Although preliminary, overall results suggest that for some individuals, these devices might do more harm than good.

Tweens (children ages ~8-14years) are a relatively recently defined age group, increasingly targeted by marketers. Individuals in this age group are particularly vulnerable to opinions and behaviors presented in media messages, given their level of cognitive and social development. However, little research has examined messages about appearance, food, weight, and exercise in television specifically targeting tweens, despite the popularity of this media type among this age group. This study used a content analytic approach to explore these messages in the five most popular television shows for tweens on the Disney Channel (as of 2015). Using a multiple-pass approach, relevant content in episodes from the most recently completed seasons of each show was coded. Appearance related incidents occurred in every episode; these most frequently mentioned attractiveness/beauty. Food related incidents were also present in every episode; typically, these situations were appearance and weight neutral. Exercise related incidents occurred in 53.3% of episodes; the majority expressed resistance to exercise. Weight related incidents occurred in 40.0% of the episodes; the majority praised the muscular ideal. Women were more likely to initiate appearance incidents, and men were more likely to initiate exercise incidents. These results suggest that programs specifically marketed to tweens reinforce appearance ideals, including stereotypes about female attractiveness and male athleticism, two constructs linked to eating pathology and body dissatisfaction. Given the developmental vulnerability of the target group, these findings are concerning, and highlight potential foci for prevention programming, including media literacy, for tweens.

This study examined the connections between heterosexism, mental health, body appreciation and community consciousness in sexual minority men (SMM). Participants (n = 89) completed a national online survey. Simultaneous multiple regressions found that heterosexism explained 9.4% of the variance in body appreciation and 25.8% of the variance in mental health; mental health accounted for 28.0% of the variance in body appreciation. Within these models, harassment/rejection heterosexism was a unique positive predictor of mental health problems and a unique negative predictor of body appreciation; depression was a unique negative predictor of body appreciation. A moderated mediational model found that depression mediated the relationship between harassment/rejection heterosexism and body appreciation, but only in men who endorsed high community consciousness. Intervention research might benefit from helping SMM explore the ways in which body image is affected by heterosexism and mental health, as well as the ways that contemporary Western gay communities might contribute to these connections.

Weight stigma involves stereotyping individuals based on body size. Individuals with obesity face weight stigma in many areas of their lives, and consequences can include impairment of mental and physical health, relationships, and academic performance. Weight-stigmatizing messages are pervasive in mass media, but the degree and characteristics of its presence within new-media social environments remain comparatively unknown. This study examined weight stigma on Twitter by coding Tweet content that included the word “fat” within a 4-h timeframe (N = 4596). Coding marked demographic characteristics represented in content, messages about weight, and perceived intent of the message. Of all messages, 56.57 % were negative and 32.09 % were neutral. Of those containing weight-stigmatizing messages (n = 529), themes relating to fatness included: gluttonous (48.58 %), unattractive (25.14 %), not sexually desirable (2.65 %), sedentary (13.80 %), lazy (5.86 %), and stupid (4.16 %). Weight-stigmatizing messages are evident in the increasingly important arena of social media, and themes appear similar to those that emerge in other forms of media. Prevention and intervention body image programs should consider targeting social networks to help individuals manage societal messages.