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Effect of Photographs of Thin and Heavy Fashion Models on Body Satisfaction and Self-Esteem in Young Women
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26
POSTER SESSION: PROFESSIONAL SKILLS/NUTRITION ASSESSMENT/MEDICAL NUTRITION THERAPY Title: EFFECT OF PHOTOGRAPHS OF THIN AND HEAVY FASHION MODELS ON BODY SATISFACTION AND SELFESTEEM IN YOUNG WOMEN Author(s): V. Quick, C. Byrd-Bredbenner; Nutritional Sciences, Rutgers University, Hillsborough, NJ Learning Outcome: To describe how a brief exposure to photographs of thin and heavy fashion models affect the body satisfaction and self-esteem of young women. Text: The notion that body types portrayed in media may adversely affect body satisfaction and self-esteem, contributing to eating disorders in women, is based on limited research that failed to compare images of thin women with equally attractive heavy women. Thus, this 2-phase study compared the effect of photographs of equally attractive thin and heavy fashion models on body satisfaction and self-esteem of women. Phase 1: 98 women (ages 17-26) rated body size and face and hair attractiveness of 33 pairs of photographs (matched for hair and clothing color and style and camera angle, differing in body size) using 5-point Likert scales. Pairs differing ⬍20% on attractiveness and ⬎ 29% on body size ratings were used in Phase 2. Phase 2: 369 non-eating disordered women (mean age 21.7⫹1.7SD years) not participating in Phase 1, completed the pretest and posttest which assessed body satisfaction and self-esteem. An average 8.9⫹4.2SD days later, participants were systematically randomly assigned to view 16 thin (n⫽189) or 16 heavy (n⫽180) fashion models and complete the posttest. Unpaired t-tests revealed groups did not differ at pretest on body satisfaction or self-esteem. Paired t-tests indicated that body satisfaction in white (n⫽111) and nonwhite (n⫽69) women significantly increased after viewing heavy models (p⬍0.05). Similarly, body satisfaction significantly increased in white (n⫽119) and nonwhite (n⫽70) women viewing thin models. No significant differences occurred in self-esteem. In contrast to previous studies, results suggest that the size of fashion models portrayed in photographs does not negatively affect body satisfaction and self-esteem in women. Funding Disclosure: None
Journal of the AMERICAN DIETETIC ASSOCIATION / A-45
POSTER SESSION: PROFESSIONAL SKILLS/NUTRITION ASSESSMENT/MEDICAL NUTRITION THERAPY Title: EFFECT OF PHOTOGRAPHS OF THIN AND HEAVY FASHION MODELS ON BODY SATISFACTION AND SELFESTEEM IN YOUNG WOMEN Author(s): V. Quick, C. Byrd-Bredbenner; Nutritional Sciences, Rutgers University, Hillsborough, NJ Learning Outcome: To describe how a brief exposure to photographs of thin and heavy fashion models affect the body satisfaction and self-esteem of young women. Text: The notion that body types portrayed in media may adversely affect body satisfaction and self-esteem, contributing to eating disorders in women, is based on limited research that failed to compare images of thin women with equally attractive heavy women. Thus, this 2-phase study compared the effect of photographs of equally attractive thin and heavy fashion models on body satisfaction and self-esteem of women. Phase 1: 98 women (ages 17-26) rated body size and face and hair attractiveness of 33 pairs of photographs (matched for hair and clothing color and style and camera angle, differing in body size) using 5-point Likert scales. Pairs differing ⬍20% on attractiveness and ⬎ 29% on body size ratings were used in Phase 2. Phase 2: 369 non-eating disordered women (mean age 21.7⫹1.7SD years) not participating in Phase 1, completed the pretest and posttest which assessed body satisfaction and self-esteem. An average 8.9⫹4.2SD days later, participants were systematically randomly assigned to view 16 thin (n⫽189) or 16 heavy (n⫽180) fashion models and complete the posttest. Unpaired t-tests revealed groups did not differ at pretest on body satisfaction or self-esteem. Paired t-tests indicated that body satisfaction in white (n⫽111) and nonwhite (n⫽69) women significantly increased after viewing heavy models (p⬍0.05). Similarly, body satisfaction significantly increased in white (n⫽119) and nonwhite (n⫽70) women viewing thin models. No significant differences occurred in self-esteem. In contrast to previous studies, results suggest that the size of fashion models portrayed in photographs does not negatively affect body satisfaction and self-esteem in women. Funding Disclosure: None
Journal of the AMERICAN DIETETIC ASSOCIATION / A-45