Do body image investment and evaluation relate to bulimic symptoms in U.S. collegiate men and women in the same way?

Abstract

Although research suggests that body image investment (i.e., drive for muscularity, orientation toward appearance, preoccupation with weight or weight gain) and body image evaluation factors (e.g., negative evaluations of appearance, overestimation of current weight) correlate with bulimic symptoms, the magnitude of these relationships may differ between men and women. The relationship between bulimic symptoms and the drive for muscularity, one form of body image investment theorized to be particularly relevant to men, is understudied in college students. This study examined bulimic symptoms, body image investment, and body image evaluation in American undergraduate students (84 men, 198 women). Bulimic symptoms were negatively associated with appearance evaluation and positively associated with appearance orientation, weight preoccupation and weight overestimation in both men and women. Bulimic symptoms were positively associated with the drive for muscularity in men, but not in women. Awareness of the relationships between bulimic symptoms and body image investment and evaluation may help identify those at risk for bulimic symptoms.Keywords: sex, bulimic symptoms, the drive for muscularity, body image investment, body image evaluation Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by recurrent binge eating, followed by compensatory behaviors such as purging, fasting, the use of laxatives, enemas, diuretics, and over exercising to burn excess calories (American Psychiatric Association, APA, 2000). Bulimia nervosa can lead to a variety of health risks, including damage to dental enamel and gum tissue (Mehler, 2011;Pomery & Mitchell, 2001), gastro-intestinal problems (Mehler, 2011;Pomery & Mitchell, 2001), and death (Crow et al., 2009). Although eating disorders have long been perceived to occur primarily in women, 10-20% of all patients with bulimia nervosa are men (Joiner, Katz, & Heatherton, 2000;Jones & Morgan, 2010).Research on men with bulimia nervosa is sparse; however, recent studies indicate the number of men suffering from the disorder may be greater than previously thought (Herpertz, Kocnar, & Senf, 1997;Jones & Morgan, 2010). This may be due to changes in the perception that eating disorders only affect women (Herpertz et al., 1997;Jones & Morgan, 2010) and homosexual men (Jones & Morgan, 2010), or an actual increase in the number of men who are suffering from eating disorders (Morgan, 2009). Regardless, the number of men who are dissatisfied with their bodies and are taking steps to reduce their dissatisfaction is increasing (Morgan, 2009;Ryan & Morrison, 2009).When assessing body image, researchers typically focus on two dimensions: body image investment and body image evaluation (Cash, Melnyk, & Hrabosky, 2004). Body image investment reflects the degree of cognitive and behavioral importance that someone assigns to his or her body and appearance, whereas body image evaluation is a person's satisfaction or dissatisfaction with his or her appearance (Cash et al., 2004). Research suggests...

Male body image and visual attention towards oneself and other men.

“…Body dissatisfaction in men, especially concerning muscularity, was found to be associated with adverse psychological and behavioral consequences such as low self-esteem, depression, exercise dependence, eating pathology, and the abuse of anabolic-androgenic steroids (e.g., Chittester & Hausenblas, 2009; Hildebrandt, Harty, & Langenbucher, 2012; Olivardia, Pope, Borowiecki, & Cohane, 2004; Pritchard, 2014). An excessive drive for muscularity is also a core component of muscle dysmorphia, a body image disorder (Pope, Gruber, Choi, Olivardia, & Phillips, 1997) characterized by the persistent and pathological belief that one’s body is insufficiently muscular and lean (Olivardia, 2001).…”

Warning labels on fashion images: Short‐ and longer‐term effects on body dissatisfaction, eating disorder symptoms, and eating behavior

“…Participants in our study also exhibited an increase in the attention they pay towards their appearance after repeated exposures to fashion advertisements with warning labels. Although this increase by itself might not be problematic, there is evidence suggesting that appearance orientation is positively associated with and predictive of subsequent disordered eating (Pritchard, 2014; Zarychta, Mullan, Kruk, & Luszczynska, 2017). …”

“…Although this increase by itself might not be problematic, there is evidence suggesting that appearance orientation is positively associated with and predictive of subsequent disordered eating (Pritchard, 2014;Zarychta, Mullan, Kruk, & Luszczynska, 2017).…”

Spontaneous Self-Concept in a Successful Weight Loss- A Pluralist Qualitative Study

“…Negative body image investment has also been demonstrated to affect differently according to the gender (Pritchard, 2014). In this ambit, women report a higher concern with the level of body fat (Charnyak & Lowe, 2010), while men tend to be more worried not only with body fat but also with the muscularity level (Jung, Forbes, & Chan, 2010).…”