Eleanor H. Wertheim

Body image satisfaction, dieting beliefs, and weight loss behaviors in adolescent girls and boys.

Body image and weight loss beliefs and behaviors were assessed in 341 female and 221 male high school students. Estimates of body dissatisfaction varied depending on the measurement strategy used. Despite having similar weight distributions around the expected norm, girls were significantly more dissatisfied with their bodies than boys. Body Mass Index was positively related to body dissatisfaction in girls and boys, while higher exercise levels were related to higher body satisfaction in boys. Nearly two-thirds of girls and boys believed being thinner would have an impact on their lives, but the majority of girls believed this would be positive while the majority of boys believed this would be negative. Thirteen percent of female subjects reported using one or more extreme weight loss behavior at least weekly. Beliefs regarding the effectiveness of different weight loss measures were assessed. Weight loss behaviors in this Australian sample appear similar to comparable U.S. samples.

WHY DO ADOLESCENT GIRLS WATCH THEIR WEIGHT? AN INTERVIEW STUDY EXAMINING SOCIOCULTURAL PRESSURES TO BE THIN

Body concerns, dieting, and weight watching were examined in 30 year 10 adolescent girls. Semistructured interviews consisting of open-ended and rated questions assessed descriptions of and reasons for weight loss attempts, with an emphasis on noting sociocultural influences. Audiotaped and transcribed interviews were assessed for themes, coded and rated. Findings suggested a strong role of sociocultural influences leading to both unhealthy and healthy body attitudes and eating behaviors. Media and fashion were reported to exert the strongest pressures to be thin for subjects. While a few subjects reported direct pressures to diet from friends and parents, indirect social influences were more common. These influences included social comparison, joint dieting and avoidance of social disapproval.

Longitudinal Predictors of Restrictive Eating and Bulimic Tendencies in Three Different Age Groups of Adolescent Girls.

This study examined longitudinal predictors of future eating problems in 435 female adolescents in Grades 7, 8, and 10, who were tested at two time points 8 months apart. Restrictive eating and bulimic tendencies were found to be relatively stable from Time 1 to Time 2, particularly in older grade levels. Partial correlations predicting Time 2 restrictive eating and bulimic tendencies indicated a role of body dissatisfaction, depression, and weight-related teasing, with findings being most clear in Grade 7. Path analyses indicated that the relationships among predictors were more complex and that some of the relationships were mediated by other variables.

Maternal feeding practices predict weight gain and obesogenic eating behaviors in young children: a prospective study

BackgroundMaternal feeding practices have been proposed to play an important role in early child weight gain and obesogenic eating behaviors. However, to date longitudinal investigations in young children exploring these relationships have been lacking. The aim of the present study was to explore prospective relationships between maternal feeding practices, child weight gain and obesogenic eating behaviors in 2-year-old children. The competing hypothesis that child eating behaviors predict changes in maternal feeding practices was also examined.MethodsA sample of 323 mother (mean age = 35 years, ± 0.37) and child dyads (mean age = 2.03 years, ± 0.37 at recruitment) were participants. Mothers completed a questionnaire assessing parental feeding practices and child eating behaviors at baseline and again one year later. Child BMI (predominantly objectively measured) was obtained at both time points.ResultsIncreases in child BMI z-scores over the follow-up period were predicted by maternal instrumental feeding practices. Furthermore, restriction, emotional feeding, encouragement to eat, weight-based restriction and fat restriction were associated prospectively with the development of obesogenic eating behaviors in children including emotional eating, tendency to overeat and food approach behaviors (such as enjoyment of food and good appetite). Maternal monitoring, however, predicted decreases in food approach eating behaviors. Partial support was also observed for child eating behaviors predicting maternal feeding practices.ConclusionsMaternal feeding practices play an important role in the development of weight gain and obesogenic eating behaviors in young children and are potential targets for effective prevention interventions aiming to decrease child obesity.

Depression and anxiety through pregnancy and the early postpartum: An examination of prospective relationships

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to explore the prospective relationship between depressive symptoms and anxiety across pregnancy and the early postpartum. METHODS Participants (N=207) completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Trait subscale, Beck Depression Inventory, and social support and sleep quality measures at two time points during pregnancy and once in the early postpartum period. RESULTS After accounting for the relative stability of anxiety and depression over time, depressive symptoms earlier in pregnancy predicted higher levels of anxiety in late pregnancy and anxiety in late pregnancy predicted higher depressive symptomatology in the early postpartum. A bi-directional model of depression and anxiety in pregnancy was supported. LIMITATIONS Data were based on self-reports and participating women were predominantly tertiary educated with high family incomes. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that depressive symptoms precede the development of higher levels of anxiety and that anxiety, even at non-clinical levels, can predict higher depressive symptoms. Clinicians are advised to screen for anxiety and depression concurrently during pregnancy.

Parent Influences in the Transmission of Eating and Weight Related Values and Behaviors

Early adolescent boys (n = 587) and girls (n = 619) and a parent completed questionnaires, that assessed child dieting behaviors, body dissatisfaction and tendency to overeat, childs current and ideal size, mother and father dieting, and encouragement of the child to diet.

Sleep quality and depression during pregnancy: a prospective study

For the first time, the relationship between depressive symptoms and sleep quality was explored prospectively during pregnancy. Participants (n = 273) completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Beck Depression Inventory at three 8‐week intervals, starting from 15–23 weeks gestation. In addition to sleep quality and depression remaining relatively stable during pregnancy, findings revealed that sleep quality earlier in pregnancy predicted higher levels of depressive symptoms at later stage in pregnancy (after controlling for prior depression levels). In contrast, there was no evidence to suggest that depressive symptoms earlier in pregnancy impacted on sleep quality later on. Given that depressive symptomatology can lead to major depression and given the prevalence of pre‐ and postnatal depression, our findings suggest that screening for sleep problems during pregnancy may be of clinical significance.

Psychosocial predictors of weight loss behaviors and binge eating in adolescent girls and boys

This study examined the predictors of dieting, extreme weight loss behaviors, and binge eating in adolescents (606 females and 315 males). High school classes were administered measures of weight loss behaviors, binge eating, perceived current and ideal body size, body dissatisfaction, advantages of being thinner and physically fitter, satisfaction with fitness, depression, self-esteem, parental overprotection, parental caring, and family adaptability and cohesion. Principal component analyses grouped predictor (body image, psychosocial) and criterion (weight loss behaviors, binge eating) variables. The primary predictor of weight loss behaviors in both sexes and binge eating in girls was the desire to be thinner which included a larger current body size. Psychological and family variables played lesser roles but were significantly predictive in a number of cases. Sex differences in factor structures and important predictors emerged.

The relationship between depression and body dissatisfaction across pregnancy and the postpartum : a prospective study

The overall aim of this study was to examine the relationship between depression and body dissatisfaction across pregnancy and the first 12 months postpartum. During pregnancy, womens (N = 116) perceived attractiveness and strength/fitness remained stable, while feeling fat and salience of weight/shape decreased in late pregnancy. During the postpartum, feeling fat and salience of weight/shape increased. Depression and body dissatisfaction scores were correlated with each other concurrently and across multiple time points. However, in baseline-controlled prospective analyses, only a model of greater depression late in pregnancy predicting body dissatisfaction at six weeks postpartum and feeling fat throughout the postpartum was supported.

Test-retest reliability and internal consistency of a variety of measures of dietary restraint and body concerns in a sample of adolescent girls

OBJECTIVE Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were examined in a variety of measures relating to body concerns and dieting and eating behaviors. METHOD Grade 9 females (n = 363) from nine schools completed questionnaires with the aid of a definitions glossary at Time 1, including the five subscales of the Eating Attitudes Test, the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire-Restraint scale, a variety of measures of current size and ideal size (self, parents) based on the Body Figure Rating Questionnaire, the Appearance Evaluation and Appearance Orientation subscales of the Multidimensional Body Self-Rating Questionnaire, and the Weight Loss Behaviors Scale. Four to 5 weeks later, 164 girls completed the questionnaires again. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Findings indicated adequate internal consistency and high test-retest correlations for all measures. Some measures, particularly those related to body size and dietary restraint, showed a slight increase in group means over time.