•A systematic literature review of body image flexibility is detailed.•The current literature minimally explores cross-cultural differences.•This literature base is largely concerned with study of ...maladaptive correlates.•Future research should emphasize diversity and development of valid measures.
The emergence of body image flexibility into the positive body image nomenclature has innovatively expanded the conceptualization of how individuals may adaptively respond to body image threats. Given the notable growth of interest in researching this construct over nearly the past decade, the present analysis provides a systematic and critical review of evidence examining the roles of body image flexibility as correlate, mediator, moderator, and in intervention research. Results indicated that body image flexibility tended to demonstrate a pattern of relationships with correlates in directions predicted by its conceptualization and showed promise in functioning as both effect modifier and as an explanatory variable in the associations evaluated. Multiple studies demonstrated susceptibility to change following intervention. Although the current state of the literature is bound by notable limitations, the results of this review point to pertinent future steps in advancing the theory and application of body image flexibility scholarship.
Body image disturbance (BID) is a core symptom of anorexia nervosa (AN), but as yet distinctive features of BID are unknown. The present study aimed at disentangling perceptual and attitudinal ...components of BID in AN.
We investigated n = 24 women with AN and n = 24 controls. Based on a three-dimensional (3D) body scan, we created realistic virtual 3D bodies (avatars) for each participant that were varied through a range of ±20% of the participants' weights. Avatars were presented in a virtual reality mirror scenario. Using different psychophysical tasks, participants identified and adjusted their actual and their desired body weight. To test for general perceptual biases in estimating body weight, a second experiment investigated perception of weight and shape matched avatars with another identity.
Women with AN and controls underestimated their weight, with a trend that women with AN underestimated more. The average desired body of controls had normal weight while the average desired weight of women with AN corresponded to extreme AN (DSM-5). Correlation analyses revealed that desired body weight, but not accuracy of weight estimation, was associated with eating disorder symptoms. In the second experiment, both groups estimated accurately while the most attractive body was similar to Experiment 1.
Our results contradict the widespread assumption that patients with AN overestimate their body weight due to visual distortions. Rather, they illustrate that BID might be driven by distorted attitudes with regard to the desired body. Clinical interventions should aim at helping patients with AN to change their desired weight.
Objective: The aim of this study was to identify predictors of weight regain and continued weight maintenance among individuals already successful at long-term weight loss in a widely available ...weight-management program. Methods: Participants were 2843 weight-loss maintainers in WeightWatchers who had maintained weight loss ≥9.1 kg for ≥1 year (average 25.5 kg for 3.5 years; BMI = 26.7 kg/m2 ). Validated behavioral, psychosocial, and home environmental questionnaires were administered at study entry and 1 year later. Discriminant analysis identified variables that discriminated gainers (≥2.3-kg gain) from maintainers (±2.3-kg change). Results: Over the 1 year of follow-up, 43% were gainers (mean SD, 7.2 5.4 kg), and 57% were maintainers (0.4 1.2 kg). Compared with maintainers, gainers were younger and had higher initial weight, more recent weight losses, and larger initial weight losses. Standardized canonical coefficients indicated that the 1-year changes that most discriminated gainers from maintainers were greater decreases in the ability to accept uncomfortable food cravings, urges, and desires to overeat (0.232); self-monitoring (0.166); body image (0.363); and body satisfaction (0.194) and greater increases in disinhibition (0.309) and bodily pain (0.147). The canonical correlation was 0.505 (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Future interventions to prevent regain should consider targeting overeating in response to internal and external food cues and declines in self-monitoring and body image.
nasopharyngeal cancer often involves heavy treatment based on radio-chemotherapy which can affect the body image of patients, however,this parameter is often neglected by health professionals and its ...impact can be devastating.
Evaluate body image in patients with cavum cancers at different times during treatment.
This is a descriptive cohort study assessing body image that included 30 patients treated between January and March 2022. For cavum cancer. The Body Image Scale (BIS) was used for this assessment.
A high score reflected an alteration in body image. The average age was 45 years (20-65 years) with a sex ratio of 2.5. The majority of patients were married, of urban origin (17 patients; 56%) and of primary education level (15 patients; 50%). The tumor stage (III) was the most represented (24 patients; 80%); the questionnaire was carried out during treatment for 20 patients (66%) Before treatment for 5 patients (16%) and in the first 6 months of follow-up for 5 patients (16%); 2 patients had a recurrence of the disease (6%).
Patients presented functional symptoms related to cancer or treatments in 90% (27 patients). The most common symptoms were: dysphagia (15 patients), xerostomia (8 patients), hair loss and dysgeusia (6 patients) and fatigue, pain and burning sensations in 5 patients.
These symptoms bothered the patients in 90% of cases (27 patients) and had caused a negative psychological impact in 66% of cases (20patients); 8 patients (26%) expressed an avoidance of the mirror, felt less attractive and believed they were victims of mutilating treatment.
10 patients (33%) expressed social avoidance and discomfort with themselves and 7 patients expressed a lack of self-confidence (23%) and discomfort with their partner (20%). 13 patients felt depressed (43%), however 17 patients felt optimistic (56%) and no patients expressed suicidal thoughts. All patients claimed to have a containing family and 13 patients (43%) complained of a negative impact on the profession. 14 patients used camouflage objects (46%), the most frequent of which: a scarf in 8 patients and a cap or hat in 6 patients, the average BSI score was 17 (10-37).
Screening for altered body image in patients with cavum cancer seems to be essential by all health professionals, which helps improve the quality of life of patients.
•Most participants had overcome their negative body image by age 18 years.•Turning points included finding a new social context in which they felt belonging.•Many participants also developed a sense ...of agency and empowerment in their lives.•Several participants had used cognitive strategies to improve body image.•The positive body image aquired by men and women differed.
This study examined the developmental journeys of individuals who have overcome negative body image in early adolescence and developed positive body image on their way to emerging adulthood. Interviews were conducted with 15 women and 16 men (aged 26–27) recruited from a large longitudinal sample. Results demonstrated different patterns of positive body image development, but most participants had overcome their negative body image by age 18. Factors contributing to their negative body image in early adolescence included negative peer influence and discontent with life in general. Turning points included finding a new social context, experiencing agency and empowerment, and using cognitive strategies to improve body image. Characteristics of the participants’ current positive body image coincided with established features of positive body image; novel findings were that the women were more likely to think of positive body image as needing constant work to maintain and were also more likely to have a feminist identity, whereas the men were more likely to try to improve their body shape and perceive their body as resembling the ideal. In conclusion, body image interventions need to target not only matters related to physical appearance but also adolescents’ general sense of belonging, agency, and empowerment.
•Professor Cash encouraged greater scholarship into the context-dependence of body image.•Literature has since explored the frequency and correlates of both positive and negative body image.•The ...moderating influence of trait body image on state-based relationships remain unclear.•State body image of males, clinical populations, and those with disability remain under-explored.•Methodological and empirical bases for building on Cash’s foundational work in this field are provided.
This review highlights the contributions of Professor Thomas Cash to the scholarship of body image experiences in daily life, including his influence on subsequent research in this field. Cash’s arguments for capturing a broad range of state-based body image experiences have been heeded, with recent studies exploring positive body image constructs as well as the more studied negative body image experiences. Appearance comparisons are the most commonly studied contextual influence on body image, and they seem to have a consistent effect. However, the experiences of body image in sexual contexts, and among adolescents, those who are pregnant, or have other physical characteristics that may increase the salience of appearance warrant further attention. Findings generally support Cash’s contention that trait body image relates to likelihood and level of experience of body image in daily life, though the moderating effects of trait aspects on state-based relationships remains unclear. The discussion concludes with consideration of the impact of assessment schedules on obtained results. It is also discussed how accumulated knowledge regarding state-based body image experiences may be leveraged in treatment contexts, particularly in light of clear evidence that repeated assessment of body image in daily life increases self-awareness of one’s body image characteristics.
Body-positive content on social media aims to challenge mainstream beauty ideals and encourage acceptance and appreciation of all body types. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of ...viewing body-positive Instagram posts on young women’s mood and body image. Participants were 195 young women (18–30 years old) who were randomly allocated to view either body-positive, thin-ideal, or appearance-neutral Instagram posts. Results showed that brief exposure to body positive posts was associated with improvements in young women’s positive mood, body satisfaction and body appreciation, relative to thin-ideal and appearance-neutral posts. In addition, both thin-ideal and body-positive posts were associated with increased self-objectification relative to appearance-neutral posts. Finally, participants showed favourable attitudes towards the body positive accounts with the majority being willing to follow them in the future. It was concluded that body-positive content may offer a fruitful avenue for improving young women’s body image, although further research is necessary to fully understand the effects on self-objectification.
Humans show perceptual biases that suggest distorted internal representations of their own body. New research reveals that these perceptual biases can reflect integration of prior assumptions about ...body posture rather than a misshaped representation of the body’s geometry.
Humans show perceptual biases that suggest distorted internal representations of their own body. New research reveals that these perceptual biases can reflect integration of prior assumptions about body posture rather than a misshaped representation of the body’s geometry.
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