Family functioning, body image, and eating disturbances.

Self-objectification has been implicated in the development of body image disturbances and disordered eating among adults and adolescents. Empirical research exploring these associations among children is limited. Given body image and eating disturbances have been observed in a significant proportion of children, elucidating the factors associated with these disturbances among members of this population segment is important to informing prevention and intervention efforts. Accordingly, we cross-sectionally examined the association between self-objectification and body image and eating disturbances in 219 Australian 6- to 11-year-olds (57% classified as female children; average age = 8.37 years, SD = 1.42). Significant associations were observed between measures of self-objectification and body surveillance; body surveillance and both body shame and weight/shape concern; and weight/shape concern and dietary restraint. Results suggest early interventions targeting poor body image may need to address self-objectification, although further research is needed to firmly establish self-objectification as a risk factor for poor body image in children. Practitioners could utilize resources specifically developed for children, which encourage positive body esteem, build body confidence, support healthy relationships with food and exercise, and promote activities encouraging individuals to be attuned to how their bodies feel rather than how they look.

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Viewership of pro-eating disorder websites: Association with body image and eating disturbances

International Journal of Eating Disorders ◽

10.1002/eat.20408 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 41 (1) ◽

pp. 92-95 ◽

Cited By ~ 69

Author(s):

Kelley Harper ◽

Steffanie Sperry ◽

J. Kevin Thompson

Keyword(s):

Body Image ◽

Eating Disorder ◽

Eating Disturbances

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Prevention programme for eating disturbances in adolescents. Is their effect on body image maintained at 30 months later?

Body Image ◽

10.1016/j.bodyim.2012.11.004 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 175-181 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Paola Espinoza ◽

Eva Penelo ◽

Rosa M. Raich

Keyword(s):

Body Image ◽

Prevention Programme ◽

Eating Disturbances

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Body-Related Behaviours and Cognitions: Relationship to Eating Psychopathology in Non-Clinical Women and Men

Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy ◽

10.1017/s1352465811000270 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 39 (5) ◽

pp. 591-600 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Caroline Meyer ◽

Lauren McPartlan ◽

Anthony Rawlinson ◽

Jo Bunting ◽

Glenn Waller

Keyword(s):

Body Image ◽

Eating Attitudes ◽

Eating Pathology ◽

Body Image Disturbance ◽

Clinical Group ◽

Eating Disturbances ◽

Body Checking ◽

Eating Psychopathology ◽

Cognitive Patterns ◽

Poor Body Image

Background: Eating disturbances and poor body image are maintained by body-related safety behaviours and their associated cognitions. These include body checking, avoidance, comparison and display, which can be seen as safety behaviours, maintaining eating pathology and poor body image. It is not clear from the existing literature whether these behavioural and cognitive patterns are independently related to eating psychopathology. Method: This study of a non-clinical group of women and men (N = 250) explored the association of eating attitudes and behaviours with these four elements of body-related behaviours and cognitions. Results: It was found that each of the four elements had independent associations with eating attitudes and behaviours. Those associations were not explained by anxiety or depression levels. Discussion: Whilst these findings require study within a clinical group, they suggest that all four elements of body-related behaviours and cognitions need to be considered as potential maintaining factors when formulating eating psychopathology and body image disturbance.

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