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Eating Disorders and Related Research

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Global Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2021) | Viewed by 18502

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Observatory on Eating Disorders, Department of Psychology, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Viale Ellittico, 31, 81100, Caserta, Italy
Interests: eating disorders such as anorexia; bulimia and binge eating disorders; parental bondings; body image; psychoanalysis; prevention interventions; epidemiology; NSSI

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Assistant Guest Editor
Observatory on Eating Disorders, Department of Psychology, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Viale Ellittico, 31, 81100 Caserta, Italy
Interests: eating disorders; anorexia; bulimia; obesity; binge-eating disorder; appetite; reverse anorexia; childhood obesity; body modifications, self-injurious behaviors; puberty and adolescence; body/mind relationship; psychoanalysis; clinical psychology
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Over the past fifty years, eating disorders have progressively become the subject of increasingly large and complex research studies. Starting from studies on epidemiology, clinical characteristics, risk factors, parental relationships, comorbidities, importance of body image and shape, and preventive interventions have been promoted and tested and the effectiveness of some therapeutic interventions has been evaluated.

This Special Issue aims to collect original empirical and theoretical studies that are not limited to the main research areas covered so far, but on the developments and effects that EDS have on social and economic life, on intrapsychic and relational aspects, on youth movements, and on the relevant changes affecting nutrition and the environment. In particular, we aim to collect papers on every aspect related to ED and not only on clinical aspects; articles proposed on the relationship between ED and current events (e.g. COVID-19, migration, politics, environment, etc.) will be preferred, on topics including:

  • ED and impact on social and/or economic life;
  • ED and the body (fashion, body image, other body symptoms such as self-injurious behaviors, body dysmorphic disorder, and so on);
  • ED and sexuality;
  • ED family;
  • Prevention program;
  • ED and technologies;
  • ED on the web;
  • ED and femininity;
  • ED and adolescence;
  • ED epidemiology among migrants;
  • ED and asceticism.

Dr. Paolo Cotrufo
Dr. Stefania Cella
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • anorexia
  • bulimia
  • binge eating disorder
  • parental bondings
  • eating disorders and socialization
  • eds and nutrition
  • intrapsychic
  • eds and gender studies
  • eds and lock-down
  • eds and migration

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 1224 KiB  
Article
Investigation of Eating Disorder Risk and Body Image Dissatisfaction among Female Competitive Cheerleaders
by Allison B. Smith, Jennifer L. Gay, Eva V. Monsma, Shawn M. Arent, Mark A. Sarzynski, Dawn M. Emerson and Toni M. Torres-McGehee
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(4), 2196; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19042196 - 15 Feb 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 5201
Abstract
Social agents associated with cheerleading environments are increasingly linked to body image dissatisfaction (BID) and eating disorders (ED). This study examined ED risk across team type, squad type, and position. An additional purpose determined BID in clothing type (daily clothing, midriff uniform, and [...] Read more.
Social agents associated with cheerleading environments are increasingly linked to body image dissatisfaction (BID) and eating disorders (ED). This study examined ED risk across team type, squad type, and position. An additional purpose determined BID in clothing type (daily clothing, midriff uniform, and full uniform), and meta-perceptions from the perspective of peers (MP peers), parents (MP parents), and coaches (MP coaches). Female cheerleaders (n = 268) completed an online survey which included demographics, the Eating Attitudes Test-26, and pathogenic behavior questions. Body image perceptions were assessed by using the Sex-Specific Figural Stimuli Silhouettes. Overall, 34.4% of cheerleaders (n = 268; mean age: 17.9 ± 2.7 years) exhibited an ED risk. Compared to All-Star cheerleaders, college cheerleaders demonstrated significant higher ED risk (p = 0.021), dieting subscale scores (p = 0.045), and laxative, diet pill, and diuretic use (p = 0.008). Co-ed teams compared to all-girl teams revealed higher means for the total EAT-26 (p = 0.018) and oral control subscale (p = 0.002). The BID in clothing type revealed that cheerleaders wanted to be the smallest in the midriff option (p < 0.0001, η2 = 0.332). The BID from meta-perception revealed that cheerleaders felt that their coaches wanted them to be the smallest (p < 0.001, η2 = 0.106). Cheerleaders are at risk for EDs and BID at any level. Regarding the midriff uniform, MP from the perspective of coaches showed the greatest difference between perceived and desired body image. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eating Disorders and Related Research)
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11 pages, 480 KiB  
Article
Coping during COVID-19: The Impact of Cognitive Appraisal on Problem Orientation, Coping Behaviors, Body Image, and Perceptions of Eating Behaviors and Physical Activity during the Pandemic
by Elisha Starick, Vanessa Montemarano and Stephanie E. Cassin
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(21), 11305; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182111305 - 28 Oct 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2442
Abstract
Large surveys indicate that many people perceive that their health behaviors (i.e., eating behaviors, physical activity, and self-care routines) and body image have changed during COVID-19; however, large individual variation exists. A person’s cognitive appraisal of COVID-19 disruptions may help account for individual [...] Read more.
Large surveys indicate that many people perceive that their health behaviors (i.e., eating behaviors, physical activity, and self-care routines) and body image have changed during COVID-19; however, large individual variation exists. A person’s cognitive appraisal of COVID-19 disruptions may help account for individual differences. Those with a negative problem orientation perceive problems as “threats”, whereas those with a positive problem orientation reframe problems as “opportunities”. The present experimental study examined the impact of appraisals, specifically being prompted to reflect on the changes in health routines precipitated by COVID-19 restrictions as either “threats” or “opportunities”, on problem orientation, coping behaviours, body image, and perceptions of eating behaviors and physical activity in a sample of female undergraduate students (N = 363). The group that reflected on challenges/barriers reported having a more negative problem orientation, being more negatively impacted by COVID-19, engaging in more maladaptive coping behaviors, and having less positive body image compared to participants who reflected on opportunities presented during the pandemic. Findings suggest that appraisals and problem orientation are malleable, and that people who tend to fixate on the challenges associated with COVID-19 may benefit from strategically reflecting on their own resilience and new opportunities that have arisen for engaging in health behaviors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eating Disorders and Related Research)
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11 pages, 820 KiB  
Article
Intergenerational Transmission of Child Feeding Practices
by Lilac Lev-Ari, Ada H. Zohar, Rachel Bachner-Melman and Auriane Totah Hanhart
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(15), 8183; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18158183 - 2 Aug 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2264
Abstract
This study assessed the relationships between parents’ retrospective recollections of their mothers’ child feeding practices (CFP), current disordered eating (DE) and current CFP (how they now feed their children). 174 Israeli parents (136 mothers, 38 fathers; 40.1 ± 6.9 years of age) of [...] Read more.
This study assessed the relationships between parents’ retrospective recollections of their mothers’ child feeding practices (CFP), current disordered eating (DE) and current CFP (how they now feed their children). 174 Israeli parents (136 mothers, 38 fathers; 40.1 ± 6.9 years of age) of children between the ages of 2 and 18, living at home, completed questionnaires online assessing demographics, retrospective recollections of the CFP that their mothers used when they were children, current CFP and current DE. Specific aspects of retrospectively recalled maternal CFP were significantly associated with the same aspects of current CFP. Current DE mediated the association between retrospectively recalled maternal CFP and current CFP and moderated the association between current concern about child’s weight and pressure for child to eat. Results highlight that the way adults pass on their feeding practices to their children is strongly influenced by their childhood recollections of their mothers’ concern about their weight, pressure for them to eat or restriction of their food intake. People often strive to behave differently from their parents, especially in the realm of food and eating. However, our findings suggest that parental CFP can become entrenched and can be passed on to our children. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eating Disorders and Related Research)
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12 pages, 1145 KiB  
Article
Self-Esteem and Binge Eating among Adolescent Boys and Girls: The Role of Body Disinvestment
by Stefania Cella, Annarosa Cipriano, Cristina Aprea and Paolo Cotrufo
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(14), 7496; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18147496 - 14 Jul 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4360
Abstract
Although low self-esteem and body disinvestment have been recognized as potential risk factors for disordered eating, no studies have explored how these factors may work together to predict binge eating in adolescents. Therefore, we hypothesized a path model for girls and boys separately [...] Read more.
Although low self-esteem and body disinvestment have been recognized as potential risk factors for disordered eating, no studies have explored how these factors may work together to predict binge eating in adolescents. Therefore, we hypothesized a path model for girls and boys separately to investigate whether the body’s investment dimensions (feelings towards the body, physical touch, body care, body protection) mediate the relationship between self-esteem and binge eating, and age moderate such relationships. Participants were 1046 Italian students aged between 11 and 19 years (472 girls, Mage = 14.17; 574 boys, Mage = 14.60) screened through self-report measures. Both models showed an acceptable fit (males: χ2(22) = 30.441; RMSEA = 0.026; CFI = 0.99; TLI = 0.97; SRMR = 0.023; females: χ2(22) = 34.723; RMSEA = 0.35; CFI = 0.98; TLI = 0.95; SRMR = 0.029). Negative body feelings and reduced body protection fully mediated the relationship between self-esteem and binge eating, regardless of gender. Our findings highlight the importance of interventions promoting body emotional investment to reduce adolescents’ vulnerability to binge eating. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eating Disorders and Related Research)
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10 pages, 531 KiB  
Article
Two to Tango? The Dance of Maternal Authority and Feeding Practices with Child Eating Behavior
by Ada H. Zohar, Lilac Lev-Ari and Rachel Bachner-Melman
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(4), 1650; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18041650 - 9 Feb 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2824
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to elucidate the relationship between maternal feeding practices and children’s eating problems. Mothers of 292 children aged 5.9 ± 1.1, 50% boys, reported online on parental authority, overt and covert control of the child’s food choices, child [...] Read more.
The purpose of this study was to elucidate the relationship between maternal feeding practices and children’s eating problems. Mothers of 292 children aged 5.9 ± 1.1, 50% boys, reported online on parental authority, overt and covert control of the child’s food choices, child feeding practices, and their child’s problematic eating behavior. Structural equation modelling yielded a model with excellent indices of fit (χ(2)(52) = 50.72, p = 0.56; normed fit index (NFI) = 0.94; root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.001). The model showed that an authoritarian maternal authority style was associated with overt control, which was associated with maternal tendency to pressure children to eat and with maternal restriction of highly processed or calorie-rich snack foods. These, in turn, were positively associated with the child’s satiety response, food fussiness, and slow eating, and negatively with the child’s enjoyment of food. In contrast, a permissive maternal authority style was associated with covert control of the child’s eating, concern over the child being overweight, and the restriction of highly processed and calorie-rich snack foods, which were in turn positively associated with the child’s emotional overeating and the child’s food responsiveness. The model seems to tap into two distinct patterns of mother-child feeding and eating dynamics, apparently related to children with opposing appetitive tendencies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eating Disorders and Related Research)
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