Exposure to slim images in mass media: Television commercials as reminders of restriction in restrained eaters.

Abstract

Objective:The aim of the present study was to explore the effects of exposure to slim images and diet-related products in commercials on actual food intake in relation to dietary restraint. Design: An experimental design was used, in which food intake was measured in 124 female students who watched either a sad or a neutral movie on television, which was interrupted by either commercials featuring slim models and diet products, or neutral commercials. Subsequently, participants filled out questionnaires on dietary restraint and any tendency toward overeating. Main outcome variable: Intake of snack food while watching television. Results: It was found that highly restrained students exposed to commercials with slim models and diet-related products ate less food, whereas less restrained eaters ate slightly more after seeing these commercials. Conclusion: The findings suggest that restrained eaters confronted with diet products and slim images when watching television will be reminded of their restricted eating behavior and eat less. The present study provides support for the reinhibition theory of slim media images.

Goal-directed visual attention drives health goal priming: An eye-tracking experiment.

“…To this end, choices and eye movements were measured while individuals choose between low and high energy food products in a realistic online supermarket task. Since primes are more likely to affect the behavior of individuals when they activate a goal that is relevant to them (Anschutz, Van Strien, & Engels, 2008;Papies et al, 2010). it was hypothesized that the diet prime would affect choice and visual attention more in individuals high in dietary restraint, i.e., individuals that have the goal to restrict energy intake in order to control body weight (Herman & Mack, 1975).…”

Effects of Media Images on Attitudes Toward Tanning

“…A good deal of literature has now documented the link between media exposure, internalization of the thin-ideal, and eating pathology (Anschutz, Van Strein, & Engels, 2008;Garner, Garfinkel, Schwartz, & Thompson, 1980;Harrison & Cantor, 1997;Heinberg & Thompson, 1995;Silverstein, Perdue, Peterson, & Kelly, 1986;. For example, several studies have found evidence that the rise in the incidence of eating disorders coincided with a decrease in the body weight of women depicted in the media (Garner et al, 1980;Silverstein et al, 1986) and with an increase in the number of articles concerned with weight-loss diets and exercise in major magazines (Garner et al, 1980;.…”

Self-management practices among type 2 diabetes patients attending primary health-care centres in Medina, Saudi Arabia

“…A possible explanation for better dietary practices among women could be that they are more likely to be mindful of their diet than men are (24). Because women are considered a dependent population group in Saudi, it is not surprising that they more readily adhere to advice about diabetes self-management (18).…”