Risk and protective factors for eating, weight, and body image problems
In what ways do dieting and over-exercise contribute to eating, weight and body image problems?
They are:
- are unsafe ways to control weight, shape and size.
- may lead to eating disorders.
- are more likely in those with higher Body Mass Index. Those with a higher Body Mass Index are at more risk for unsafe weight control behaviors, overeating (Wade et al, 2009) and eating disorder behaviors (Neumark-Sztainer, 2005) because they experience body dissatisfaction and strong pressure to be thinner.
Here are some signs that a person may be engaging in risky and unsafe eating and exercise practices that might lead to disordered eating:
- Dramatic weight loss
- Containers of laxatives, diuretics, diet pills or steroids/preparations that increase muscularity
- Frequent comments about being fat (despite average weight, thinness, or weight loss) or having less muscularity.
- Frequent self-disparaging remarks about one's weight
- Anxiety about being "fat" or gaining weight (even normal amount of weight gain or shape changes r/t puberty) or about being "flabby" and not toned
- Feeling anxious about missing even a day of exercising.
- Rigid exercise routine (despite illness, fatigue or injury). Includes compulsive weight lifting.
- Binge eating or overeating (with or without overt emotional triggers)
- Food that disappears or is eaten in secret (wrappers may be left)
- Feeling guilty about what they eat or devaluing themselves
- Preoccupation with weight, food, calories, fat grams, and dieting
- Food rituals
- Equates eating with self-control,
- Isolates or gets moody after eating
- Skipping meals or eating erratically: Misses meals, skips food groups, cuts out all foods high in fat (and often protein)
- Does not eat with friends or teammates and makes excuses for why s/he doesn't have to eat with them.
- Leaves the table for the bathroom soon after meals (Tantillo, 2008)
