Vegetarianism and eating disorders: association between eating attitudes and other psychological factors among Turkish adolescents

The purpose of this study was to determine whether differences exist in eating attitudes, self-esteem, social trait anxiety and social physique anxiety of self-reported vegetarian and nonvegetarian Turkish adolescents. The sample for the Turkish University' students is designed to provide the estimates of vegetarian indicators and prevalence. The participants were 608 females and 597 males, in total 1205 adolescents aged between 17 and 21 years. Disturbed eating behaviors (EAT-26> or =20) was found in 45.2% (14 of vegetarian) of the total vegetarian sample; which included two of the male vegetarians and 12 of the female vegetarians. The mean BMI was 19.78+/-1.49 kg/m(2) for female vegetarians and 20.78+/-2.46 kg/m(2) for female nonvegetarians (p<0.05). Male vegetarians had significantly higher score than male nonvegetarians on EAT-26 (17.25+/-11.18 for male vegetarians and 9.38+/-6.60 for male nonvegetarians), dieting (6.50+/-7.65 for male vegetarians and 2.55+/-3.87 for male nonvegetarians) and oral control (6.13+/-4.67 for male vegetarians and 3.20+/-3.19 for male nonvegetarians) scores (p<0.05). Besides, female vegetarians had significantly higher score than female nonvegetarians on EAT-26 (22.04+/-13.62 for female vegetarians and 11.38+/-8.28 for female nonvegetarians), dieting (10.35+/-9.58 for female vegetarians and 4.41+/-5.30 for female nonvegetarians), oral control (7.78+/-5.13 for female vegetarians and 3.33+/-3.51 for female nonvegetarians) and STAI (51.39+/-7.28 for female vegetarians and 47.29+/-5.13 for female nonvegetarians) scores (p<0.05). As a conclusion, the present study indicated abnormal eating attitudes, low self-esteem, high social physique anxiety, and high trait anxiety in Turkish vegetarian adolescents. The vegetarian adolescents may be more likely to display disordered eating attitudes and behaviors than nonvegetarians.     

An ecologically based examination of barriers to physical activity in students from grade seven through first-year university

PurposeThe first purpose was to identify barriers to physical activity that students in grade seven through first-year university experienced. A second purpose was to classify barriers using an ecological framework and to examine the pattern of barrier categories (i.e., intrapersonal, interpersonal, institutional, community, public policy, and physical environmental) and specific barrier types as grade increased. The use of an ecological model addressed limitations in prior research revolving around the identification of salient barriers in a manner that makes the design of effective interventions difficult.MethodsParticipants in grades 7–8 (n = 35), 9–10 (n = 67), 11–12 (n = 80), and the freshmen year of university (n = 109) listed barriers to physical activity on an open-ended measure.ResultsFindings revealed a trend for the average number of barriers reported per student to increase as grade in school increased. First-year university students reported significantly more barriers than all other grade groupings. The frequency of barriers reported within the ecological categories was dependent on the specific grade groupings. Further, within each ecological category, distinct barriers were reported across the different grade groupings.ConclusionsFindings highlight the utility of using an ecological model to categorize barriers, rather than simply classifying barriers as internal or external to an individual, as done in prior research. Understanding the pattern of ecologically based barrier categories and specific types of barriers will help to inform the content of future research and interventions designed to alleviate salient barriers to physical activity.     

Social anxiety and agoraphobia in the eating disorders: associations with eating attitudes and behaviours

BACKGROUND: While eating disorders have a high comorbidity with anxiety disorders, little is presently known about how anxiety links to eating attitudes and behaviours and other related characteristics of eating-disordered individuals. The present study aimed to determine whether social anxiety and agoraphobia in eating-disordered individuals are linked to different eating attitudes and behaviours and levels of ego functioning. METHOD: The participants were 70 women who met DSM-IV criteria for an eating disorder. The Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI) was used as a measure of eating attitudes and ego-functioning characteristics, while the Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory (SPAI) was used as a measure of levels of social anxiety and agoraphobia. RESULTS: High scores on the eating attitude scales of the EDI were associated with higher levels of social anxiety in eating-disordered individuals. High scores on the ego-dysfunction scales of the EDI were associated with higher levels of social anxiety and agoraphobia. CONCLUSIONS: The present findings suggest that eating-related attitudes and behaviours are associated with high levels of social anxiety, while psychological characteristics not specifically related to eating are associated with anxiety more broadly. The results highlight the importance of identifying and addressing comorbid anxiety in eating-disordered individuals, and suggestions are made for the treatment of such cases. Implications for future research are also discussed.     

An evaluation of eating disorders among a group of Turkish university students

The prevalence of eating disorders has been increasing in the last 20 years, not only in developed countries, but also in less developed countries such as Turkey. This study was conducted among 610 university students, 338 males and 272 females who are between 17 and 23 years old, in Ankara, the capital of Turkey, to determine eating disorders among the young. The data regarding the eating disorders and self-evaluation were assessed according to the EAT-40 test and the Body Cathexis Scale. The scores received from the eating attitudes test were low among the underweight (18.9+/-9.7) and higher among the overweight (21.6+/-15.9). Eating disorders risks are more prevalent among females compared to males (P<0.001). 17.2% of the underweight and 21.2% of the overweight are at higher risk of eating disorders. There was a positive correlation between the eating attitudes test scores and young people's body weight, BMI, mid-upper arm and waist circumferences, while a negative correlation was determined between the body cathexis scores and these variables. The authors believe that educating young people about healthy nutrition and monitoring them through longitudinal research studies will be helpful to prevent eating disorders, which are significant in terms of public health.     

Ethnic and gender differences in eating attitudes among black and white college students

This study examines ethnic and gender differences in eating attitudes and behaviors among college students. Participants were 225 Black and 199 White students sampled from a historically Black university. White participants were more dissatisfied with their bodies, engaged in more self-loathing, and dieted more than Blacks. Similarly, women were more dissatisfied with their bodies, engaged in more self-loathing, dieted more, and showed a greater drive for thinness than men. White women and Blacks of either gender exhibited similar predictors of drive for thinness with each group showing some combination of dieting and self-loathing. Intrapersonal anger predicted drive for thinness in White men, adding to a growing body of research suggesting a link between anger and eating disorders. Results support a substantial body of literature showing that Black and White college students differ on their views of body image and eating. Future research should explore the role of anger as a risk factor for eating disorders among White men.     

The contribution of physical and social activity participation to social support and happiness among people with physical disabilities

BackgroundPrior studies have suggested that certain leisure activities provide health benefits to people with physical disabilities. Participation in social activities has been identified as a strong predictor of active coping strategies and social support from others. In addition, leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) has been found to be positively associated with health perceptions and quality of life.ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between social activity and LTPA to social support and life satisfaction among people with physical disabilities.MethodsData were collected from Korean Association of Persons with Physical Disabilities. A total of 351 surveys were used.ResultsResults indicated that social activity, emotional and informational support, and tangible and affectionate support were significantly associated with happiness. However, there were no direct effects of LTPA and positive social interaction support on happiness. The study results showed significant direct effects of LTPA on emotional and informational support and positive social interaction.ConclusionThis study shows that it is important for people with physical disabilities not only to participate in LTPA, but also to be provided with opportunities for social activities. In particular, the importance of social activity to Korean people with physical disabilities as a means of receiving social support and increasing happiness was confirmed. The results suggest that practitioners need to create a variety of social activity opportunities, such as online social participation programs, community-based social programs, and social events for health.     

Behavioural support of a proposed neurocognitive connection between physical activity and improved eating behaviour in obese women

ProblemAn explanation of the association between physical activity and improved eating behaviours has recently been posited via the effect of physical activity on executive functions of the brain resulting in a reduction in the hedonic drive to overeat. Decomposition and clarification of embedded relationship through a behavioural/psychological framework was sought.MethodsChanges in theory-based psychosocial factors over 26 weeks were tested with 134 severely obese women (age 41.7 ± 10.4 years) initiating a physical activity support treatment. Mediation and reciprocal effects analyses incorporating these changes were then computed.ResultsSignificant improvements in mood, self-regulation for eating, and self-efficacy for controlled eating were found. Emanating from mood change, a reciprocal relationship between changes in the self-regulation and self-efficacy measures was found. Thus, each factor reinforced the other's change.ConclusionFindings suggest a convergence of neurocognitively and behaviourally based explanations of the relations of physical activity and controlled eating. Implications for behavioural weight-loss theory and treatments were suggested.     

Beliefs and their relationship to eating attitudes and depressive symptoms in men

OBJECTIVE: The applicability of the cognitive model of eating disorders, particularly the role of deeper level beliefs, has not yet been investigated in men. The current study investigated the relationship between negative self-beliefs, underlying assumptions about weight, shape and eating, eating attitudes and depressive symptoms in a student sample of young men. METHOD: Fifty-six young male students completed self-report questionnaires, including measures of deeper level beliefs previously found to be typical of women with eating disorders and women with disturbed eating attitudes. RESULTS: Eating attitudes in the student sample of young men were best predicted by one underlying assumption, i.e. control over eating. Depressive symptoms were best predicted by negative self-beliefs. CONCLUSION: Negative self-beliefs and underlying assumptions about weight, shape and eating relate to eating attitudes and depressive symptoms in a student sample of young men as would be predicted by cognitive theory. Cognitive models of eating disorders, particularly those incorporating deeper level beliefs may, therefore, be applicable to young men.     

健美操对大学生体像和社会体格焦虑的影响

目的探讨健美操教学对大学生体像、社会体格焦虑的影响。方法于2010年5月利用多维自我体像关系问卷(MBSRQ)和社会体格焦虑量表(SPAS)对西安体育学院09级社会体育系81名大学生进行测试。结果每周2次,每次90 min,持续9周的健美操教学训练对大学生体像、社会体格焦虑各因子均有积极效益,但仅在舒适倾向、健康评估和超重、不舒适感维度(SP)因子上,试验后明显优于实验前;试验前后,男生在舒适倾向、健康评估和超重、SP因子上差异显著;而女生在NE因子上差异显著。试验前后,自我体像低分者和社会体格焦虑高分者差异显著。结论健美操教学能够促进大学生对自我体像的积极评估和降低社会体格焦虑,且对自我体像低分者和社会体格焦虑高分者效果更佳。     

Predictors of body image dissatisfaction and disturbed eating attitudes and behaviors in African American and Hispanic girls

Disturbed eating attitudes and behaviors are widespread among girls in the United States. Because obesity is one of the leading risk factors for eating disorder development, African American and Hispanic girls may be at heightened risk due to their greater prevalence and degree of overweight. The present study examined the associations among disturbed eating attitudes and behaviors, body image dissatisfaction, weight classification, fears of negative evaluation, and coping skills among 139 African American and Hispanic girls in Grades 4 and 5 from a low-income urban area. African American girls had significantly lower body image dissatisfaction than Hispanic girls. Significant predictors of body image dissatisfaction included fear of negative evaluation and weight classification. Fear of negative evaluation was also a significant predictor of disturbed eating attitudes and behaviors. Overall, 10.1% of the African American girls and 12.7% of the Hispanic girls qualified for a diagnosis of a probable eating disorder. Girls with eating disorders had greater fears of negative evaluation and engaged in more cognitive avoidance. Both groups are at risk of eating disorder development.     

早孕期孕妇运动态度和体力活动情况的调查

目的了解早孕期孕妇对孕期运动的态度及早孕期孕妇的体力活动情况,从而为早孕期孕妇的合理运动形式及运动强度提供指导。方法 2013年9~12月,使用统一的调查问卷对参加北京大学第一医院早孕期大课堂的330例孕妇进行调查。结果 85%以上的早孕期孕妇认为孕期运动对母儿有益,70%以上的孕妇相信孕期运动是相对安全的,但仅有30%的孕妇对孕期运动的安全性非常肯定。75%以上的孕妇愿意且有信心在孕期进行运动,并有90%以上的孕妇希望得到有关孕期运动形式和运动强度的专业建议。孕妇身边重要的人,如丈夫、父母、公婆和医生对孕期运动所持有的态度同孕妇对孕期运动的态度明显相关(P0.05),且以医生的态度和建议最为重要。医生对早孕期孕妇运动的态度同早孕期孕妇的体力活动层次间存在正相关(P0.05)。早孕期孕妇的体力活动以非快速步行运动为主,在体力活动层次分级中,从事低、中、高活动的早孕期孕妇分别占53.3%、39.0%和7.6%,结论大部分早孕期孕妇对孕期运动持赞成和接受的态度,但是早孕期孕妇的运动强度和活动水平普遍偏低,而医生对其孕期运动方式的建议和指导,能最大程度的影响她们的运动状况。     

Cultural correlates of eating attitudes: a comparison between native-born and immigrant university students in Israel

OBJECTIVE: This study explores the association between gender and exposure to Western culture and attitudes toward eating. METHOD: Four hundred and ninety-nine university students participated in the study: 216 Israeli natives, 153 new immigrants (3 years or less since immigration) from the Former Soviet Union (FSU), and 130 veteran immigrants from FSU (4-15 years since immigration). Attitudes toward eating were measured using the Eating Attitude Test - EAT-26. RESULTS: Israeli born women had higher weight and body mass index (BMI) than did new immigrant women. Higher scores on the EAT-26 were found among women than among men. Among women only, native-born Israelis and veteran immigrants were more likely to have positive EAT-26 scores (19.6%, 18.8%) than were new immigrant women (7.9%), indicating disordered eating attitudes. Part of the differences in EAT-26 scores was explained by differences between the groups on age and BMI; however, even after adjustment the differences remained significant on the bulimia subscale. CONCLUSION: The results suggest a rapid cultural effect in attitudes toward eating that may reflect a tendency toward eating disorders as well as a difference in the proportion of obesity. It seems that the veteran immigrants have adopted Western cultural norms and eating patterns in a way that has erased the differences in tendency toward eating disorders between them and the Israeli born women.     

Barriers to physical activity in university students with disabilities: Differences by sociodemographic variables

Background

Despite the positive effects of regular physical activity (PA), university students with disabilities are less active than their able-bodied peers, which could be due to the wide range of barriers to PA that these individuals face across all social ecological levels.

Social anxiety and eating disorder comorbidity: the role of negative social evaluation fears

Social anxiety and eating disorders are highly comorbid. However, it is unknown how specific domains of social anxiety relate to disordered eating. We provide data on these relationships and investigate social appearance anxiety and fear of negative evaluation as potential vulnerabilities linking social anxiety with disordered eating. Specifically, we examined five domains of social anxiety: Social interaction anxiety, fear of scrutiny, fear of positive evaluation, fear of negative evaluation, and social appearance anxiety. Results indicated that social appearance anxiety predicted body dissatisfaction, bulimic symptoms, shape concern, weight concern, and eating concern over and above fear of scrutiny, social interaction anxiety, and fear of positive evaluation. Fear of negative evaluation uniquely predicted drive for thinness and restraint. Structural equation modeling supported a model in which social appearance anxiety and fear of negative evaluation are vulnerabilities for both social anxiety and eating disorder symptoms. Interventions that target these negative social evaluation fears may help prevent development of eating disorders.     

The development of a model to predict drinking behavior from attitudes in university students

The major purposes of the study were: a) to examine the relationship between attitudes and self-reported levels of drinking; and b) to develop a stable prediction equation that included attitudes as a predictor of drinking behavior. A Likert-type survey was developed to measure college student's attitudes toward alcohol. The survey was administered to a sample of college students (n=1049). The coefficient alpha reliability estimate was found to be .91. Stepwise multiple regression procedures were used to ascertain the relationships between attitudes and other psychosocial constructs of drinking. The dependent variable was an alcohol consumption index. The analysis revealed that the seven variable model was the most parsimonious (R ² =.46), and attitudes toward drinking was the strongest predictor of self-reported drinking behavior. A double cross-validation of the regression model indicated that the model was very stable, and therefore could be generalized to similar samples. The substantive findings related to students' self-reported drinking practices are also reported.     

Circulating leptin levels are associated with physical activity or physical fitness in Japanese

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the link between circulating leptin levels and physical activity and/or physical fitness in apparently healthy Japanese.

Methods

A total of 85 men and 111 women who were not taking any medication were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Circulating leptin levels, physical activity measured by tri-axial accelerometers and peak oxygen uptake were evaluated. We also assessed anthropometric data, blood pressure, blood examinations and energy intake.

Results

Circulating leptin levels were 3.2 ± 2.3 ng/mL in men and 5.9 ± 3.8 ng/mL in women. Circulating leptin levels were significantly and positively correlated with body weight, body mass index, abdominal circumference, insulin and the homeostasis model assessment index, and significantly and negatively correlated with peak oxygen uptake in both sexes. Stepwise multiple regression showed that peak oxygen uptake in men and physical activity evaluated by \(\sum {\left[ {{\text{metabolic equivalents }} \times \rm h {\text{ per week}}({\text{METs}}\;\;h/w)} \right]}\) in women were determinant factors for circulating leptin levels after adjusting for confounding factors.     

Structural and cultural factors influencing physical activity in Switzerland

The article examines age-specific patterns of physical activity in Switzerland and relates them to a number of structural and cultural background variables. It is argued that the general decline in physical activity throughout the life-course is modified by a number of structural factors. An empirical analysis of the Swiss Health Surveys of 1992 and 2002 showed that the shape of the curve showing age-specific decline in physical activity varies significantly between different social groups. For Switzerland, the most important effects were found to relate to gender, language region, household size (family situation), financial situation and nationality, whereas educational level and urban vs. rural place of residence appeared to play a minor role. The findings suggest that target-specific interventions to increase the level of physical activity are more promising than campaigns aimed at the general population. Even when catering for the need of specific age groups such as, for example, the elderly population, the structural and cultural context must be taken into account to develop programmes that are not only adapted to physiological need but also to the structural and cultural resources and constraints of the target groups in question.

杭州市城区初中生体力活动行为与认知状况调查

目的 了解杭州市城区初中生体力活动行为与认知情况.方法 选取杭州市4549名城区初中生进行自填式问卷调查,了解初中生校内外体力活动、静态活动和对体力活动的看法.结果 4549名初中生中仅7.50％每天体力活动时间≥60 min.初中生每日校外做作业约2h,周末约3h,其他坐着活动的时间每日≥30 min和周末约2h的比例最高.初中生每天60 min参加体力活动保持健康的知晓率仅为24.63％,不同年级和性别的学生对体力活动作用的认识差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论 杭州市城区初中生仍然缺乏体力活动和相关知识,应开展干预活动促进其体力活动的水平.