What is body image? - Canadian Obesity Network

Healthy Body Image
Across Weight Status
Dr. Shelly Russell-Mayhew
Registered Psychologist
Associate Professor
Faculty of Education
University of Calgary
Obesity and Mental
Health Conference
June 2012
Toronto
June 26-28, 2012
Sexy ‘Anna Rexia’ Dress
“Obese Santas to get in shape
for Christmas”
OFF THE SCALE:
Have healthy, normal children such as Bianca been wrongly labelled
by health authorities as overweight? Richard Guilliatt talks to
researchers and angry parents who are warning of a backlash.
“May be overweight
or at risk of
becoming
overweight”
Objectives
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What?
Why?
Who?
Where?
When?
How?
WHAT?
What is body image?
• A multidimensional construct
(Cash, 2004)
T h e m en t al p ict u r e yo u h av e
o f yo u r p h ys ical ap p ear an ce
A N D t h e at t it u d es an d
f eelin g s yo u h av e t o war d s it .
T ra n sp a ren c y # 2
BODY
IMAGE:
The picture you have in your mind
of the way you look from the top
of your head
to the tip of your toes.
WHAT?
What is body image?
• A multidimensional construct
• Consists of:
*weight and shape concern
*body dissatisfaction
Weight and Shape Concern
• refers to a preoccupation with or overconcern about issues related to weight,
shape, and size along with a self valuation
based largely in terms of weight and shape
(Allen et al., 2008).
•Affective and cognitive/investment
components of body image
Body Dissatisfaction
• subjective negative evaluation of one’s
body or body parts (Allen et al., 2008).
•Spans the evaluative and affective
components
SHARED RISK FACTOR
• Weight and shape concern is a shared
risk factor for both eating disorders and
obesity.
– the best predictor of binge eating in a
prospective study of children and adolescents
(Allen et al., 2008)
– Linked to disordered eating (McCabe, Ricciardelli & Holt,
2005) and general psychological distress(Perrin et
al,., 2010)
Feeling Fat versus Being Fat?
•The role of weight and shape concern is
hypothesized as a factor that could account
for the individual differences in the
psychological outcomes evidenced in
overweight/obese children and youth (Allen
et al., 2006).
SHARED RISK FACTOR
• Body image dissatisfaction is a shared
risk factor for both eating disorders and
obesity.
– Robust risk factor for eating disorders (Stice, 2002)
– Implicated in binge eating (Johnson & Wardle, 2005) and
decreased physical activity (Neumark-Sztainer et al.,
2006)
WHY?
Why body image?
• Body image is relevant to a broad
spectrum of weight-related issues (NeumarkSztainer et al., 2007).
• It is a popular phenomenon (Choate, 2005).
Normative Discontent
(Rodin et al., 1985)
• Excessive thinness is so pervasively
depicted that being discontent with our
bodies is now understood as the norm
WHY?
Why body image?
• Body image is relevant to a broad
spectrum of weight-related issues.
• It is a popular phenomenon.
• It’s a numbers game (Neumark-Sztainer et al.,
2002,2006,2007; McVey et al., 2004).
With A Proper Diet, Moderate but
Consistent Exercise,
& A Healthy Mindset,
I Should Be Able To Fit In Fine
WHY?
Why body image?
• Body image is relevant to a broad spectrum of
weight-related issues.
• It is a popular phenomenon.
• It’s a numbers game.
• BECAUSE BODY SATISFACTION PREDICTS
LESS WEIGHT GAIN OVER TIME! (NeumarkSztainer et al., 2006a&b, 2007)
WHO?
Who should we target with healthy body
image messaging?
• Girls AND boys (McVey et al. 2004)
THE MALE IDEAL…
has become more
muscular to the
point of outlandish
measurements.
Over time, GI Joe has
remained popular but his
biceps have “grown.”
1964 – 12.2” (31.0 cm)
1974 – 15.2” (38.6 cm)
1994 – 16.4” (41.7 cm)
1998 – 26.8” (68.1 cm)
• Her proportions would
be totally unrealistic!
38” (96.5cm)
7’2”
219.5cm
18” (45.7cm)
28” (71.1cm)
SIZE 3 feet
• She would topple over
at the waist because it
couldn’t support her
upper body.
• She actually wouldn’t
be able to stand on her
tiny tiptoed SIZE 3 feet.
WHERE?
Where is body image important?
WHEN?
When is body image an important construct?
WHEN?
• Children as young as 7 show signs of body
dissatisfaction (Riccardelli & McCabe, 2001).
• 20% of 9-year-old girls and 17% of 9-year-old
boys were trying to lose weight (Field et al., 1999).
• 26% of Canadian children (ages 2-17) are
overweight (Lau et al., 2007).
• 25% of teen girls are engaging in at least one
symptom of an eating disorder (Jones et al., 2001).
• 30% of girls and 24.5% of boys (ages 10-14)
were dieting to lose weight in a recent Canadian
sample DESPITE BEING IN THE HEALTHY
WEIGHT RANGE (McVey et al., 2005).
HOW?
How do we foster healthy
body image?
In Schools…
In the Workplace…
At Home…
• Body image is everybody’s
business
• Ecological, environmental and
holistic approaches
Conclusions:
Key Messages
• Body satisfaction predicts less
weight gain over time
• “Feeling fat may be more
important than being fat” in
terms of the psychological wellbeing of adolescents.
• Stop the focus on weight (at
least in terms of prevention)
Future Directions
• Combining eating disorders &
obesity prevention initiatives
• Impetus for change beyond
the individual
• Body image, broadly defined,
as a common factor?