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There has been much talk in sociological circles of bodies as 'projects' or 'choices,' but surprisingly little examination of how these projects and choices are experienced. Consumer culture has been described as heralding a new era in body-self relations, but few have explored the experience of body-self relations. Body-self relations emerged as central to understanding in this study of the experience of the body at different ages (20-30, 45-55 and 70+ years), demonstrating the utility of empirical investigations in this area. This paper describes an orientation to the body that was common to the sample of 20 young people (aged 20-30 years) interviewed as part of this study. This orientation informed their health-related behaviours such as diet and exercise, but some participants found it to be problematic. Their voices demonstrate that bodily 'choices' may actually be experienced as irrational and even psychopathological compulsions. This experiential perspective suggests that normality may be continuous with pathology, and that differences are of degree rather than kind. The findings have implications for the treatment and prevention of eating disorders and obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the media messages portrayed to children, 925 students, from 9 to up to 14 years of age, completed "The Sociocultural Influences Questionnaire." The media section is the focus of this paper, and the responses from three questions were selected to examine the media's influence to be slimmer, increase weight, or increase muscle size. While the girls and boys exhibited different levels of agreement with each media influence, both genders disagreed that media messages were implying they should gain weight. This is in agreement with the belief that the media perpetuates the ideal of thinness and there is a negative stigma associated with being overweight.

The dot-probe task (DPT) is a reaction time measure of attentional bias. Research using this task has found inconsistent patterns of appearance-related attentional biases in women. This study examined the effects of a novel priming variation of the DPT, which incorporated additional cues into each trial of the task, on measurement of such biases. The study also examined associations between these biases and body image, a component of eating disorder symptomatology. A convenience sample of women from the general community ( N = 103) completed body image measures online and attended a laboratory session to complete one of four DPTs: (1) an appearance-cued DPT containing images of thin-ideal models between each trial; (2) neutral-cued DPT containing images of forests; (3) time-delayed DPT controlling for time in place of an image; or (4) typical DPT containing only word stimuli. Women who completed the appearance-cued DPT demonstrated a stronger attentional bias for positive, but not negative, appearance words than women who completed the other DPT versions. Furthermore, for the appearance-cued and time-delayed DPTs, this bias correlated with poorer body image across several indicators (appearance evaluation, body dissatisfaction, self-evaluative salience of appearance, and state body satisfaction). Although it was unexpected that no attentional bias for negative-appearance words was found, the attentional bias for positive-appearance words may suggest that effects were driven by the ego-threat of positive-appearance words. Further research is warranted to determine whether such biases contribute to and maintain body image disturbance and disordered eating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/objectives: Maternal adiposity is known to affect breastfeeding initiation and duration via both antenatal and postnatal factors. This study investigates associations between maternal pregravid body mass index (BMI), breastfeeding duration and antenatal breastfeeding confidence, intention and social comfort among primiparous Australian women.Subjects/methods: Women in their first pregnancy (n=462) were recruited by convenience sampling in Queensland, Australia. Participants responded to an antenatal and six postnatal questionnaires during their infants' first year between June 2010 and March 2012. Maternal pregravid BMI was examined against breastfeeding duration, participants' antenatal infant feeding intentions and measures of breastfeeding confidence and social comfort.Results: Breastfeeding initiation in this cohort was 97%, but 46% of mothers had ceased breastfeeding at 52 weeks postpartum. Breastfeeding duration differed significantly (χ(2) (2)=7.21, P=0.007) between normal, overweight and obese women. No differences were found in antenatal intention for feeding type nor intended breastfeeding duration by one-way ANOVA (F(2,178)=1.77, P=0.17). More than half of the pregnant respondents anticipated social discomfort breastfeeding in public, with obese women significantly more likely to anticipate discomfort breastfeeding in the presence of close female friends, (χ(2) (1)=5.53, P=0.019).Conclusions: This study confirmed the risk of premature cessation of breastfeeding for obese mothers. Interventions during pregnancy that address body image issues in relation to breastfeeding may facilitate breastfeeding success for obese mothers and their infants and accrue short- and long-term health benefits for both. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite consensus that exposure to media images of thin fashion models is associated with poor body image and disordered eating behaviours, few attempts have been made to enact change in the media. This study sought to investigate an effective alternative to current media imagery, by exploring the advertising effectiveness of average-size female fashion models, and their impact on the body image of both women and men. A sample of 171 women and 120 men were assigned to one of three advertisement conditions: no models, thin models and average-size models. Women and men rated average-size models as equally effective in advertisements as thin and no models. For women with average and high levels of internalisation of cultural beauty ideals, exposure to average-size female models was associated with a significantly more positive body image state in comparison to exposure to thin models and no models. For men reporting high levels of internalisation, exposure to average-size models was also associated with a more positive body image state in comparison to viewing thin models. These findings suggest that average-size female models can promote positive body image and appeal to consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Confident Body, Confident Child (CBCC) is an innovative, evidence-based program providing parenting strategies to promote healthy eating, physical activity and body satisfaction in children aged 2–6 years. This study aimed to explore Child Health Nurse (CHN) experiences with using CBCC in their community health clinics with parents of young children. This work is part of a larger study involving tailoring, implementing and evaluating CBCC in a community child health setting. Methods: This qualitative descriptive study was conducted within community child health centres at a public health service in Queensland, Australia. Participants included CHNs who had recently attended a tailored CBCC training workshop providing training/education, group activities/discussions and CBCC resources for CHN use in clinical practice. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore CHN perceptions of CBCC training, content and resources; and how CBCC was used in practice. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically. Results: Eleven CHNs participated in interviews, with three themes emerging from the data. In Theme 1, High CHN satisfaction with CBCC messages, resources and utility, nurses expressed CBCC was highly valuable, useful and easy to enact in their practice. In Theme 2, Effects of CBCC on CHN knowledge, behaviour and practice, CHNs said they experienced increased awareness around body image, improved confidence in addressing issues with clients, and positive changes in their own behaviour and practice after attending CBCC training. In Theme 3, CHNs discussed Ideas for future implementation of CBCC, including challenges and considerations for practice, ongoing education/training for CHNs and broadening the target audience for wider CBCC dissemination. Conclusions: This study found CHNs were highly accepting of CBCC as it was useful and valuable in practice, increased their awareness and confidence around body image issues, and positively affected their attitudes and behaviours. CHNs' suggestions for making CBCC delivery more efficient and broadening its reach in the community were valuable and will likely inform local policy and future research. Further research is required on the wider dissemination of CBCC to parents of young children for promoting positive body image and healthy eating, ultimately for the long-term prevention of eating disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]