The relationship between social media use and pregnancy-related body image.

Background: Social media negatively affects body image, but few have investigated its impact on pregnancy-related body image. Pregnancy represents a vulnerable period for body image, and poor body image has negative implications for health.

Objectives: We aimed to (1) understand relations of social media and pregnancy-related body image variables, (2) examine differences in social media use and body image based on demographic characteristics, and (3) evaluate whether type of social media use (i.

An exploratory examination of medical and nursing students' intentions to discuss body image, weight, and eating disorders with their patients.

Background: Although many people have concerns about their body image, weight, and eating behaviors these issues are not usually discussed in a productive manner with medical providers. Thus, we examined nursing and medical students' willingness to discuss patients' weight, body image, and eating disorders and reasons why they may do so.

Method: One hundred and eighty-three nursing and medical students (M = 25.

A randomized controlled trial of a reading-based weight bias intervention.

Objective: Weight bias, or negative attitudes about larger bodies, is a prevalent issue associated with problems in psychological and physical health, as well as discriminatory behaviors and weight stigma. Literature is mixed regarding the efficacy of weight bias reduction efforts. This study sought to combine three elements that yielded promising results from previous studies (i.

Hormonal contraceptive use and women's well-being: links with body image, eating behavior, and sleep.

The goal of the current study was to examine associations between hormonal contraceptive use and indicators of well-being including body image, eating behavior, sleep and energy level. Drawing on a health protection framework, we expected that individuals who use hormonal contraceptives would be more attuned to health and report more positive health attitudes and behaviors on these dimensions. Undergraduate college women ( = 270;  = 19.

The effects of sleep on body image: examining the roles of depression, perceived stress, and anxiety.

Although health and wellness behaviors are associated with positive body image, research is limited regarding the relationship between sleep and positive body image. We propose that negative affective states may link sleep and body image. Specifically, we examined whether better sleep may relate to positive body image through reductions in negative affective experiences.

Understanding eating disorder symptoms in same-gender couples: social environmental factors.

Background: Sexual minority individuals are at disproportionately greater risk for eating disorders, yet little is known about the ways in which factors in the social environment relate to eating disorder symptoms in this population. Utilizing an ecological systems theory framework, we investigated the relative relationships of macro level (i.e.

The importance of sleep and parity in understanding changes in weight and breastfeeding behavior among postpartum women.

Background: Breastfeeding duration has been linked with the health of both women and their children, but research that considers women's weight change postpartum and practical factors that may impact their quality of life (i.e., sleep quantity, number of children) is limited.

Breastfeeding, body image, and weight control behavior among postpartum women.

The goal of this study was to examine breastfeeding behavior and attitudes as predictors of women's body image and weight control behavior. This study extends past research by focusing on positive body image variables including body appreciation and perceived body functionality. Women (N = 597) from the United States who had recently birthed biological babies ages 0-12 months participated in an online study.

Coping with childhood maltreatment: Avoidance and eating disorder symptoms.

Childhood maltreatment is associated with eating disorder symptoms; however, the nature of this association is unclear. We found those who experienced childhood maltreatment had higher avoidant coping and eating disorder symptoms. We also found an additive effect for maltreatment, such that with more types of maltreatment experienced, avoidant coping and eating disorder symptoms were greater.

Feeling let down: An investigation of breastfeeding expectations, appreciation of body functionality, self-compassion, and depression symptoms.

Background: Public health efforts to promote breastfeeding have resulted in many women expecting to exclusively breastfeed their infants. Women who plan to exclusively breastfeed but are not able to do so may experience psychological distress, including poor body image and symptoms of depression.

Aim: We sought to investigate discrepancies between desired and actual breastfeeding behaviors, appreciation of the functionality of one's body, and self-compassion, in relation to symptoms of depression.

Body concerns and BMI as predictors of disordered eating and body mass in girls: An 18-year longitudinal investigation.

Body concerns (e.g., body dissatisfaction and weight preoccupation) are well-supported prospective risk factors for the development of eating disorders in women.

Participant and interventionist perceptions of challenges during behavioral weight loss treatment.

No prior studies have examined how interventionists' perceptions of participants' weight control challenges or the agreement between participants and interventionists on these perceptions relate to outcomes during group-based behavioral weight loss treatment. This study characterized participants' and interventionists' perceptions of, and agreement about, weight control challenges and assessed how these factors relate to weight loss. Three months into treatment, participants and interventionists independently selected three weight control challenges believed to be most relevant for each participant.

Examination of Nutrition Literacy and Quality of Self-monitoring in Behavioral Weight Loss.

Background: Few have examined nutrition literacy (i.e., capacity to process and make informed nutritional decisions) in behavioral weight loss.

Do participants with children age 18 and under have suboptimal weight loss?

Objectives: Parenthood is a time marked by behaviors that may promote risk for weight gain, including decreased physical activity and increased unhealthy eating. Little is known about parents in the context of behavioral weight loss, such as whether they differ in weight losses, and related barriers, or behaviors.

Method: We compared parents of children aged 18 and younger (n = 105) to other participants who did not have children, or whose children were in adulthood (n = 215) in a behavioral weight loss program to evaluate six-month weight losses, and weight loss barriers and behaviors.

Daily self-weighing and weight gain prevention: a longitudinal study of college-aged women.

Daily self-weighing has been suggested as an important factor for weight loss maintenance among samples with obesity. This study is a secondary analysis that examined daily self-weighing in association with weight and body composition outcomes over 2 years among young women with vulnerability for weight gain. Women (N = 294) of varying weight status completed self-weighing frequency questionnaires and weight was measured in the clinic at baseline, 6 months, 1, and 2 years; DXA scans were completed at baseline, 6 months and 2 years.

Understanding the complexity of biopsychosocial factors in the public health epidemic of overweight and obesity.

Obesity is a complex and multifaceted public health problem. This commentary reflects on a new theoretical model of obesity (i.e.

Does cognitive avoidance mediate the relation of anxiety and binge eating?

Purpose: Theory suggests that binge eating symptoms may develop in an attempt to avoid distressing states that arise in the context of negative affect. In light of its theoretical significance, including the "escape from awareness" model of binge eating, surprisingly few empirical evaluations have examined the empirical evidence for this variable in relation to anxiety and binge eating symptoms. In addition, although it is understood that anxiety is more prevalent among women than men, empirical investigations of gender differences in cognitive avoidance in binge eating are thus far absent from the published literature.

Energy intake highs and lows: how much does consistency matter in weight control?

Behavioural weight control programmes recommend adherence to daily energy intake goals, yet also allow for flexibility in intake across days. Evidence is lacking as to whether intake consistency is important for weight control. The current study explored the relation between day-to-day intake consistency and weight loss in the context of behavioural weight loss treatment and examined the relationship between variability in intake and several factors known to be associated with weight control success.

Binge Eating among Women Veterans in Primary Care: Comorbidities and Treatment Priorities.

Background: Little is known about the clinical profile and treatment priorities of women with binge eating disorder (BED), a diagnosis new to the fifth edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. We identified comorbidities and patients' treatment priorities, because these may inform implementation of clinical services.

Methods: Data were collected from women veteran primary care patients.

The role of negative reinforcement eating expectancies in the relation between experiential avoidance and disinhibition.

Objectives: Eating-related disinhibition (i.e., a tendency to overeat in response to various stimuli) is associated with weight gain and poorer long-term weight loss success.

The relation of anxiety, depression, and stress to binge eating behavior.

This study aimed to extend the literature by examining several psychological factors (i.e. depression, anxiety, and stress) in relation to binge eating.

The Role of Anxiety in Binge Eating Behavior: A Critical Examination of Theory and Empirical Literature.

The purpose of this manuscript is to expand the understanding of binge eating by reviewing the role of aspects of negative affect. Specifically, this paper will present evidence for further investigation of the bearing that anxiety may have in binge eating development and maintenance. A comprehensive review of the literature regarding the relation of binge eating and anxiety was performed.

Health care utilisation in patients with non-cardiac chest pain: a longitudinal analysis of chest pain, anxiety and interoceptive fear.

Chest pain can be a frightening experience that leads many to seek medical evaluation. The symptom results in costly health care utilisation. Over half of patients referred for cardiac evaluations of chest pain do not obtain definitive medical explanations for their symptoms; these cases are described as non-cardiac chest pain (NCCP).

Comparative effects of low-carbohydrate high-protein versus low-fat diets on the kidney.

Background And Objectives: Concerns exist about deleterious renal effects of low-carbohydrate high-protein weight loss diets. This issue was addressed in a secondary analysis of a parallel randomized, controlled long-term trial.

Design, Setting, Participants, And Measurements: Between 2003 and 2007, 307 obese adults without serious medical illnesses at three United States academic centers were randomly assigned to a low-carbohydrate high-protein or a low-fat weight-loss diet for 24 months.

The impact of perceived stress and perceived control on anxiety and mood disorders in noncardiac chest pain.

Chest pain without detectable heart disease, noncardiac chest pain (NCCP), is linked with anxiety and depression. Theory posits stress and perceived control may relate to NCCP. We hypothesized stress would have direct and mediated effects via perceived control on anxiety and mood disorders in NCCP.