Thesis (M.A.)--Miami University, Dept. of Psychology, 2007. / Title from first page of PDF document. Includes bibliographical references (p. 39-45).

Thesis (M.A.)--Georgia State University, 2006. / Title from title screen. Layli Phillips, committee chair; Amira Jarmakani, Cassandra White, committee members. Electronic text (125 p.) : digital, PDF file. Description based on contents viewed May 2, 2007. Includes bibliographical references (p. 109-118).

Thesis (M.A.) University of Missouri-Columbia, 2006. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file viewed on (June 27, 2007) Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

No description available.

Thesis (MNutr (Interdisciplinary Health Sciences. Human Nutrition))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Background: Poor body image perception and body dissatisfaction has been found to be a risk factor for eating disorders. Studies have found that signs of distorted body image perception and body dissatisfaction can be detected in children as young as 8 or 9 years old. Aim: The current study served to assess the extent of this problem in Northeastern Johannesburg, South Africa, in order to allow for the necessary intervention steps (e.g. development of school-based programmes) to deal with this problem to be put in place. Method: The study was a cross-sectional analytical study with a descriptive component. Two hundred and four girls (81.37% Black, 15.20% White and 3.43% Coloured or Indian) aged between 96 and 119 months in primary schools in Northeastern Johannesburg were selected for this study using systematic random sampling. They were required to complete a questionnaire about their body image perception and weight control behaviours, as well as undergo anthropometric measurements (i.e. weight and height). Results: This study found that the subjects placed much importance on being thin, with subjects stating that they thought if a girl was thin she would be more popular (63.96%), have better self esteem (69.63%), be more attractive (69.11%), be more feminine (73.80%) and be healthier (66.84%). When asked to identify the girl from a silhouette drawing that most resembled themselves, 45.00% of the subjects were able to accurately identify which girl’s size most resembled their own, whereas 48.50% saw themselves as thinner than they are and 6.50% saw themselves as fatter than they are. In addition, the majority of subjects (69.61%) said that they were very happy with their weight and the majority (74.88%) classified it as “just right.” However, despite these findings, there was still significant body dissatisfaction evident in the group with 50.25% of the subjects wanting to be thinner, 28.57% wanting to be fatter and only 21.18% not wanting to be thinner or fatter than they currently are. Of the subjects participating in the study, 50.98% had tried to lose weight in the past and 28.71% had tried to gain weight. Also, various factors (i.e. media, cultural, family and peer influences), were shown to have a significant influence on the subjects’ body image perception. Other factors such as socioeconomic status and physical activity level had no significant link with the subjects’ body image perception. Conclusion: There is a significant problem with poor body image perception and resultant weight control behaviours in this age group. Clearly, there is a need for body image improvement programmes to be put in place in primary schools so as to prevent preadolescent girls from moving towards a lifetime of suffering with body dissatisfaction or, even worse, developing a life-threatening eating disorder. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Agtergrond: ’n Swak liggaamsbeeld en liggaamsontevredenheid is bekende risikofaktore vir die ontwikkeling van eetsteurnisse. Volgens studies kan tekens van ’n verwronge liggaamsbeeld en liggaamsontevredenheid reeds by jong kinders, van 8 of 9 jaar, bespeur word. Doel: Hierdie studie het gepoog om die omvang van dié probleem in die noordooste van Johannesburg, Suid-Afrika, te bepaal ten einde die nodige intervensiemaatreëls te tref (byvoorbeeld om skoolgebaseerde programme te ontwikkel) om die probleem die hoof te bied. Metode: Die studie is ’n dwarssnit analitiese studie met ’n beskrywende komponent. Met behulp van sistematiese, ewekansige steekproefneming is 204 laerskoolmeisies (81.37% Swart, 15.20% Wit en 3.43% Bruin of Indiër) van tussen 96 en 119 maande uit die noordooste van Johannesburg as proefpersone vir die studie gekies. Die meisies moes elk ’n vraelys oor hul liggaamsbeeld en gewigsbeheergedrag invul sowel as antropometriese meting van gewig en lengte ondergaan. Resultate: Die studie het gevind dat die proefpersone baie waarde daaraan heg om maer te wees. Hulle reken onder meer dat, indien ’n meisie maer is, sy waarskynlik gewilder sal wees (63.96%), ’n beter selfbeeld sal hê (69.63%), aantrekliker sal wees (69.11%), vrouliker (73.80%) en gesonder sal wees (66.84%). Toe hulle op ’n profielskets ’n meisie moes uitwys na wie hulle dink hulle die meeste lyk, kon 45.00% van die proefpersone akkuraat uitwys watter meisie se grootte die meeste met hulle s’n ooreenstem, terwyl 48.50% hulself as maerder en 6.50% hulself as vetter beskou het as wat hulle werklik is. Die meerderheid van die proefpersone (69.61%) was oënskynlik gelukkig met hul gewig en die meeste (74.88%) het hul gewig as “net reg” beskryf. Tog, ondanks dié bevindinge, was daar steeds beduidende liggaamsontevredenheid by die groep: 50.25% van die subjekte wil maerder wees, 28.57% vetter en slegs 21.18% nie maerder óf vetter as wat hulle tans is nie. Van die studiedeelnemers het 50.98% al voorheen probeer gewig verloor, terwyl 28.71% al probeer gewig aansit het. Verskeie faktore (soos media-, kulturele, gesins- en portuurinvloede) blyk ook ’n beduidende impak op die proefpersone se liggaamsbeeld te hê. Daarenteen toon ander faktore, soos sosio-ekonomiese status en vlak van fisieke aktiwiteit, geen wesenlike verband met die proefpersone se liggaamsbeeld nie. Gevolgtrekking: Hierdie ouderdomsgroep blyk ’n beduidende probleem met ’n gebrekkige liggaamsbeeld en gevolglike gewigsbeheergedrag te hê. Daar is duidelik ’n behoefte aan programme om laerskoolmeisies se liggaamsbeeld te verbeter ten einde te voorkom dat preadolessente meisies weens liggaamsontevredenheid ’n leeftyd van swaarkry tegemoetgaan of, selfs erger, ’n lewensgevaarlike eetsteurnis ontwikkel.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Esta dissertação pretende discutir o surgimento de casos de anorexia nervosa e bulimia nervosa em homens e sua relação com: a - as questões socioculturais ligadas ao culto à magreza e seus desdobramentos (como a noção de estilo de vida); e b - as discussões sobre masculinidades, experiências corporais e subjetivas desses sujeitos. Seu principal objetivo é compreender como estes transtornos alimentares, tidos como distúrbios de ordem psiquiátrica pela literatura biomédica, não estão restritos somente ao feminino, sugerindo também implicações ligadas ao processo de elaboração do saber médico, seus campos de pesquisa e atuação. A metodologia empregada foi a realização de entrevistas via MSN Messenger, com 20 homens entre 13 e 30 anos, que declaram passar ou ter passado por algum tipo de experiência envolvendo a anorexia e/ou bulimia. / This dissertation aims to discuss the emergence of cases of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa in men and its relation to: a) socio-cultural issues related to the cult of thinness and its consequences (like the notion of lifestyle), and b) discussions about masculinity and bodily and subjective experiences of these subjects. Its main objective is to understand how anorexia and bulimia, seen as psychiatric disorders in the medical literature, are not restricted only to females, also suggesting implications related to the drafting of biomedical knowledge, their fields of research and action. The methodology employed was to conduct interviews via MSN Messenger, with 20 men between 13 and 30 years old, who claim going or have gone through some kind of experiment involving anorexia and / or bulimia.

The current study examined the relations among internalization of sociocultural attitudes towards appearance, magical thinking, muscle dysmorphia, and eating disorder symptoms in models of obligatory exercise for males and females. The results indicated that several different developmental trajectories exist that vary from person to person. Several of the models proposed were supported or partially supported. The first model demonstrated mediation and moderation; at low levels of magical thinking, eating disorder attitudes and behaviors fully mediated the relation between internalization of societal standards of appearance and obligatory exercise. The second model was supported for the female sample, and indicated that obligatory exercise partially mediated the relation between internalization of societal standards of appearance and eating disorder attitudes and behaviors. The second model assessing eating disorder attitudes and behaviors for the male sample was not supported. A third model evaluated a mediational effect of muscle dysmorphia, but was not evident. However, when magical thinking was high, muscle dysmorphia significantly predicted obligatory exercise. The fourth model evaluated obligatory exercise as a mediator of the relation between internalization of societal standards of appearance and muscle dysmorphia, and partial mediation was demonstrated for the males. The fourth model was not supported for the females; instead, it appears that both internalization of societal standards of appearance and obligatory exercise contribute to muscle dysmorphia. Collectively, the results of this study support the use of a transdiagnostic perspective when designing intervention and treatment programs for individuals who may suffer from eating disorders, obligatory exercise and/or muscle dysmorphia.

U.S. sociocultural expectations regarding women's bodies have been linked with women's psychological distress. In an effort to reveal the transformative ways in which women may be subverting systems of oppression, the current study surrounds development and validation of a quantitative measurement tool centered on resistance to sociocultural beauty ideals and physical standards of appearance. Theoretical reviews, focus group interviews (n =33), and expert feedback formed the basis for item development and modification. An initial pilot sample (n = 169) offered data for initial examination of reliability, while a subsequent validation sample (n = 342) provided data for investigation of factor structure as well as evaluation of reliability and validity performance. A final 63-item Resistance to Sociocultural Appearance Standards (RSAS) Scale was developed. Exploratory factor analytic findings suggested a 3-factor solution represented the data well. Good reliability and mixed evidence for validity of the overall scale and individual subscales derived from the factor analysis were demonstrated. Strengths and limitations as well as directions for future research are discussed.

Disordered eating in men is said to be uncommon with men forming less than ten per cent of reported cases. Yet it has been suggested that the number of males with eating disorders is beginning to increase, affecting more men than ever before. This presents problems for healthcare services that have created previous models of support around women. Current research offers pathological and epidemiological data, including information about testing men for eating disorders using male-centred instruments. However, understanding is aetiolated due to a focus on medical accounts of male disordered eating, rather than focusing on the stories that men themselves have to tell. This exploratory qualitative study addresses this problem by focusing on men’s stories of disordered eating. Four men share their accounts of living with an eating disorder and these are analysed using a hermeneutic approach, in order to glean insights into their experiences with food, body and self. These insights include an examination of the meaning of fat male bodies, analysis of the phenomenon of gender ambivalence that prevails in men with disordered eating and the fragmented and colonised nature of the male eating disordered self. These represent an original contribution to understanding as they have not been considered elsewhere in the literature to date. Additionally, an extensive analysis of the male eating disorder literature, use of a hermeneutic methodology and the positioning of male eating disorders within the context of masculinities studies further add to the novel value of this research.

[pt] Este estudo tem como objetivo investigar, a partir do relato de pacientes com diagnóstico de bulimia nervosa, o papel da família na evolução e no tratamento deste transtorno alimentar. Para tanto, foi realizada uma pesquisa qualitativa, com seis mulheres acometidas por bulimia nervosa, com idades entre 19 e 32 anos, pertencentes às camadas médias e altas da população carioca. Todas as entrevistadas estavam em tratamento com equipes especializadas em transtornos alimentares. Inicialmente, foi realizado um estudo teórico a respeito das características da bulimia nervosa e das famílias com um membro com transtorno alimentar, incluindo a evolução do tratamento familiar. Esse estudo fundamentou a análise das entrevistas e, posteriormente, a elaboração de seis categorias. Por meio da análise dos relatos das entrevistadas, evidenciou-se que a maioria delas associou diretamente os seus sintomas alimentares a questões familiares, apontando para situações específicas ou recorrentes, nas quais buscaram refúgio e apoio na comida. A partir da análise dos relatos das entrevistadas, concluiu-se ser de extrema importância o envolvimento da família no tratamento da bulimia nervosa para que as questões relacionadas à dinâmica disfuncional desse sistema sejam elaboradas e, com isso, a paciente possa apresentar melhoras em seus sintomas. / [en] This study has the goal of investigating, through the interview of patients with bulimia nervosa, how the family takes part of the treatment and the development of such eating disorder. In order to reach this goal, a qualitative research was organized, with six women diagnosed as such, aged from 19 to 35 years old and members of the middle and high economic classes of the Rio de Janeiro society. Initially, a theoretic study of the characteristics of bulimia nervosa and of the families with a member that suffered of such eating disorders was made, including the evolution of family treatment. This study served as a foundation for the analysis the interviews and, later, in the creation of six categories. Through the analysis of the interviews, there was evidence that most of them related directly their eating symptoms to family issues, pointing towards specific or recurring situations, in which they seeked shelter and support in food. Analyzing such reports, the conclusion was that the participation of the family is of extreme importance in the treatment of bulimia nervosa, in order for the issues related to the dysfunctional dynamic of this system to be treated and, this way, for the patient to present an improvement of their symptoms.