My mother, sisters, and I: Investigating the role of female family members in body dissatisfaction and disordered eating behaviours among young Middle-Eastern women.

The global rise in body dissatisfaction and disordered eating concerns is apparent; however, limited research in Middle-Eastern populations gives an incomplete understanding of these concerns. The present study recruited 377 young women aged 18 to 25 years from the Middle-East for an online survey to determine how female family members may contribute to body dissatisfaction and disordered eating behaviours. Guided by the Tripartite Influence Model, we investigated the relationships between appearance pressures and fat talk, from mothers and sister(s), in predicting body dissatisfaction, and in turn, disordered eating symptomatology (restriction and bulimia), as mediated by appearance comparisons and internalisation of the thin-ideal. Overall, greater appearance pressures and fat talk from mothers and sister(s) were associated with body dissatisfaction and disordered eating symptomatology. Greater reported closeness in mother-daughter relationships, but not sister relationships, was associated with less perceived appearance pressure and fat talk by mothers, and lower appearance comparisons, body dissatisfaction and bulimia symptomatology. Finally, participants perceived greater appearance pressure from their mothers than their sister(s), but there was no difference in their perceived levels of fat talk. Findings demonstrate the applicability of a subsection of the Tripartite Influence Model in a non-Western and understudied population, namely in young Middle-Eastern women.

The mother-daughter-sister triad: The role of female family members in predicting body image and eating behaviour in young women.

Familial influence, specifically from mothers and sisters, may impact the development of body dissatisfaction and disordered eating in young women. Guided by the Tripartite Influence Model, the present study recruited 422 young Australian women for a survey to determine how appearance pressures and fat talk, exhibited by mothers and sisters, and mediational mechanisms (comparisons and internalisation), are associated with body dissatisfaction, and in turn, disordered eating symptomatology. We also explored differences in perceived ratings of mother versus sister appearance pressures and fat talk. Findings were in the hypothesised directions. Greater appearance pressures and fat talk from mothers and sisters was associated with greater body dissatisfaction, restriction and bulimic behaviours. Furthermore, appearance pressures from mothers and sisters was related to young women's likelihood of engaging in appearance comparisons and thin-ideal internalisation, which was associated with body dissatisfaction, and in turn, disordered eating symptomatology. Finally, participants perceived more appearance pressures from their mothers than their sisters, and perceived their mothers to exhibit greater fat talk than their sisters. The findings extend previous research in an important and novel way by investigating individual agents of female familial influence in addition to the role of fat talk in predicting body dissatisfaction and disordered eating.

The effect of a healthy food cue on choices from an online fast-food menu.

The prevalence of unhealthy food cues in our environment is a major contributor to poor dietary behaviours. Emerging research has shown that changing the food environment through the co-presentation of a healthy food cue may subtly 'nudge' individuals towards making healthier choices. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of a healthy food cue on subsequent food and drink choices from an online fast-food ordering menu. Participants (N = 291 women) were first presented with a cue displaying either a healthy or unhealthy meal, or no cue control. They were then shown a pictorial menu with items presented in one of two orders - menu 1 (first item healthy), menu 2 (first item unhealthy) - and asked to choose one item from each of three sections (mains, drinks, desserts). Participants also completed a questionnaire measure of dietary restraint. Overall, participants made more healthy choices from menu 1 than 2. For menu 1, there was a significant interaction between experimental condition and restraint status, whereby restrained eaters made relatively more healthy choices following the healthy cue. This was particularly the case for 'main' meal items. The findings have real world implications for digital businesses on how to present food and drink items to nudge individuals towards healthier choices.