ABSTRACT
Objective
“Pro‐ana” or Thinspiration websites are internet sites that support weight loss and eating disorders. Fitspiration websites are a newer type of site that supposedly advocates a fit ...and healthy lifestyle.
Method
The first 10 images from a sample of 50 Fitspiration and 50 Thinspiration websites, chosen using a standard internet search protocol, were rated on a variety of weight, eating, and appearance characteristics. χ2 analyses were conducted to compare website content.
Results
Thinspiration sites featured more content related to losing weight or fat, praising thinness, showng a thin pose, and providing food guilt messages than Fitspiration sites. However, sites did not differ on guilt‐inducing messages regarding weight or the body, fat/weight stigmatization, the presence of objectifying phrases, and dieting/restraint messages. Overall, 88% of Thinspiration sites and 80% of Fitspiration sites contained one or more of the coded variables.
Discussion
Prior research has examined Thinspiration websites and noted the potentially hazardous messages contained on these sites. This content analysis indicates that sites supposedly devoted to healthy pursuits (fitness) may also contain thematically similar content. (Int J Eat Disord 2016; 49:98–101)
“Drunkorexia” is a term that has been used to describe behaviors such as restricting food intake in anticipation of alcohol consumption to offset total caloric intake, and/or to enhance the ...intoxicating effect of alcohol consumption. Scattered studies over the past few years have indicated the potential problematic nature of the intersection of these behaviors, yet there remain significant gaps in the operationalization of the construct, limiting research progress. In this article, we articulate limitations of the current research, including problems with the definition of the construct and a lack of theoretical guidance. We suggest a broader and more accurate phrase to guide future work with this phenomenon: Food and alcohol disturbance (FAD). Additionally, we suggest adapting Fairburn's transdiagnostic theoretical model for FAD. It is hoped these changes might provide a roadmap for future work in this area on risk factors and adaptations of current preventive and treatment approaches to focus on this emerging form of eating disturbance.
•“Fitspiration” sites feature exercise- and diet-related content.•This study aimed to analyze the content and messages found on these websites.•Sites emphasize physical appearance, eating concerns, ...and excessive exercise.•Research on the effects of viewing such sites on body image is indicated.
“Fitspiration” websites are media that aim to inspire people to live healthy and fit lifestyles through motivating images and text related to exercise and diet. Given the link between similar Internet content (i.e., healthy living blogs) and problematic messages, we hypothesized that content on these sites would over-emphasize appearance and promote problematic messages regarding exercise and diet. Keywords “fitspo” and “fitspiration” were entered into search engines. The first 10 images and text from 51 individual websites were rated on a variety of characteristics. Results indicated that a majority of messages found on fitspiration websites focused on appearance. Other common themes included content promoting exercise for appearance-motivated reasons and content promoting dietary restraint. “Fitspiration” websites are a source of messages that reinforce over-valuation of physical appearance, eating concerns, and excessive exercise. Further research is needed to examine the impact viewing such content has on participants’ psychological health.
Ligand-directed signal bias offers opportunities for sculpting molecular events, with the promise of better, safer therapeutics. Critical to the exploitation of signal bias is an understanding of the ...molecular events coupling ligand binding to intracellular signaling. Activation of class B G protein-coupled receptors is driven by interaction of the peptide N terminus with the receptor core. To understand how this drives signaling, we have used advanced analytical methods that enable separation of effects on pathway-specific signaling from those that modify agonist affinity and mapped the functional consequence of receptor modification onto three-dimensional models of a receptor-ligand complex. This yields molecular insights into the initiation of receptor activation and the mechanistic basis for biased agonism. Our data reveal that peptide agonists can engage different elements of the receptor extracellular face to achieve effector coupling and biased signaling providing a foundation for rational design of biased agonists.
Display omitted
•Effect of mutation on affinity and efficacy of biased ligands mapped onto 3D models•Biased agonists form distinct interactions with the GLP-1R extracellular surface•Engagement of unique elements of the extracellular surface promotes biased agonism•Insights into class B GPCR activation/biased agonism can aid rational drug design
Understanding how different ligands engage and activate signaling pathways downstream of the GLP-1 receptor, a key type II diabetes target, suggests strategies for shaping signaling outcomes to favor physiologically beneficial effects.
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) has been implicated in symptoms associated with functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs), though mechanisms remain poorly defined and treatment ...involves non-specific antibiotics. Here we show that SIBO based on duodenal aspirate culture reflects an overgrowth of anaerobes, does not correspond with patient symptoms, and may be a result of dietary preferences. Small intestinal microbial composition, on the other hand, is significantly altered in symptomatic patients and does not correspond with aspirate culture results. In a pilot interventional study we found that switching from a high fiber diet to a low fiber, high simple sugar diet triggered FGID-related symptoms and decreased small intestinal microbial diversity while increasing small intestinal permeability. Our findings demonstrate that characterizing small intestinal microbiomes in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms may allow a more targeted antibacterial or a diet-based approach to treatment.
Objective
Objectification theory posits that self‐objectification increases risk for disordered eating.
Method
The current study sought to examine the relationship between self‐objectification and ...disordered eating using meta‐analytic techniques.
Results
Data from 53 cross‐sectional studies (73 effect sizes) revealed a significant moderate positive overall effect (r = .39), which was moderated by gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and measurement of self‐objectification. Specifically, larger effect sizes were associated with female samples and the Objectified Body Consciousness Scale. Effect sizes were smaller among heterosexual men and African American samples. Age, body mass index, country of origin, measurement of disordered eating, sample type and publication type were not significant moderators.
Discussion
Overall, results from the first meta‐analysis to examine the relationship between self‐objectification and disordered eating provide support for one of the major tenets of objectification theory and suggest that self‐objectification may be a meaningful target in eating disorder interventions, though further work is needed to establish temporal and causal relationships. Findings highlight current gaps in the literature (e.g., limited representation of males, and ethnic and sexual minorities) with implications for guiding future research.
Resumen
Objetivo
La teoría de la cosificación postula que la auto‐cosificación incrementa el riesgo para las conductas alimentarias de riesgo.
Método
El presente estudio buscó estudiar la relación entre la auto‐cosificación y las conductas alimentarias de riesgo utilizando técnicas meta‐analíticas.
Resultados
Los datos de 53 estudios transversales (73 tamaño del efecto) revelaron un efecto general positivo moderado significativo (r = 0,39), que fue mediado por género, etnia, orientación sexual y medida de auto‐cosificación. Específicamente, los tamaños de efecto más grandes se asociaron con muestras femeninas y la Escala de Conciencia Corporal Cosificada. Los tamaños del efecto fueron menores entre los hombres heterosexuales y las muestras de afroamericanos. La edad, el índice de masa corporal, el país de origen, la medición de las conductas alimentarias de riesgo, el tipo de muestra y el tipo de publicación no fueron moderadores significativos.
Discusión
En general, los resultados del primer meta‐análisis para examinar la relación entre auto‐cosificación y conductas alimentarias de riesgo proporcionan apoyo para uno de los principales principios de la teoría de cosificación y sugieren que la auto‐cosificación puede ser un objetivo significativo para abordar en las intervenciones de trastornos de la conducta alimentaria, aunque se necesita más trabajo para establecer relaciones temporales y causales. Los hallazgos destacan brechas actuales en la literatura (por ejemplo, representación limitada de hombres y minorías étnicas y sexuales) con implicaciones para guiar la investigación futura.
The Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire-3 (SATAQ-3) and its earlier versions are measures designed to assess societal and interpersonal aspects of appearance ideals. ...Correlational, structural equation modeling, and prospective studies of the SATAQ-3 have shown consistent and significant associations with measures of body image disturbance and eating pathology. In the current investigation, the SATAQ-3 was revised to improve upon some conceptual limitations and was evaluated in 4 U.S. and 3 international female samples, as well as a U.S. male sample. In Study 1, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses for a sample of women from the Southeastern United States (N = 859) indicated a 22-item scale with 5 factors: Internalization: Thin/Low Body Fat, Internalization: Muscular/Athletic, Pressures: Family, Pressures: Media, Pressures: Peers. This scale structure was confirmed in 3 independent and geographically diverse samples of women from the United States (East Coast N = 440, West Coast N = 304, and North/Midwest N = 349). SATAQ-4 scale scores demonstrated excellent reliability and good convergent validity with measures of body image, eating disturbance, and self-esteem. Study 2 replicated the factorial validity, reliability, and convergent validity of the SATAQ-4 in an international sample of women drawn from Italy, England, and Australia (N = 362). Study 3 examined a sample of college males from the United States (N = 271); the 5-factor solution was largely replicated, yet there was some evidence of an underlying structure unique to men. Future research avenues include additional item testing and modification of the scale for men, as well as adaptation of the measure for children and adolescents.
The Physical Appearance Comparison Scale (PACS; Thompson, Heinberg, & Tantleff, 1991) was revised to assess appearance comparisons relevant to women and men in a wide variety of contexts. The revised ...scale (Physical Appearance Comparison Scale-Revised, PACS-R) was administered to 1176 college females. In Study 1, exploratory factor analysis and parallel analysis using one half of the sample suggested a single factor structure for the PACS-R. Study 2 utilized the remaining half of the sample to conduct confirmatory factor analysis, item analysis, and to examine the convergent validity of the scale. These analyses resulted in an 11-item measure that demonstrated excellent internal consistency and convergent validity with measures of body satisfaction, eating pathology, sociocultural influences on appearance, and self-esteem. Regression analyses demonstrated the utility of the PACS-R in predicting body satisfaction and eating pathology. Overall, results indicate that the PACS-R is a reliable and valid tool for assessing appearance comparison tendencies in women.
•EFA/CFA resulted in an 11-item scale assessing comparisons in a range of contexts.•PACS-R scores demonstrated excellent reliability in a sample of college women.•PACS-R was correlated with body satisfaction, disordered eating, and self-esteem.•PACS-R is a reliable and valid tool for assessing appearance comparisons in women.
Ageing causes a decline in tissue regeneration owing to a loss of function of adult stem cell and progenitor cell populations
. One example is the deterioration of the regenerative capacity of the ...widespread and abundant population of central nervous system (CNS) multipotent stem cells known as oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs)
. A relatively overlooked potential source of this loss of function is the stem cell 'niche'-a set of cell-extrinsic cues that include chemical and mechanical signals
. Here we show that the OPC microenvironment stiffens with age, and that this mechanical change is sufficient to cause age-related loss of function of OPCs. Using biological and synthetic scaffolds to mimic the stiffness of young brains, we find that isolated aged OPCs cultured on these scaffolds are molecularly and functionally rejuvenated. When we disrupt mechanical signalling, the proliferation and differentiation rates of OPCs are increased. We identify the mechanoresponsive ion channel PIEZO1 as a key mediator of OPC mechanical signalling. Inhibiting PIEZO1 overrides mechanical signals in vivo and allows OPCs to maintain activity in the ageing CNS. We also show that PIEZO1 is important in regulating cell number during CNS development. Thus we show that tissue stiffness is a crucial regulator of ageing in OPCs, and provide insights into how the function of adult stem and progenitor cells changes with age. Our findings could be important not only for the development of regenerative therapies, but also for understanding the ageing process itself.
PDF
