The Cultural Evolution and Social Pressures of Liposuction Among Iraqi Women: Navigating Modern Beauty Standards Amidst Conservative Traditions.

This editorial explores the impact of societal transformation on Iraqi women's lives, particularly concerning beauty standards and cosmetic procedures like liposuction. It examines the influences of modernization, social media, and social pressures juxtaposed with traditional conservative values. The transition from repressive regimes to more open, albeit unstable, political landscapes has led to significant shifts in women's roles, with increased conservatism contrasting with emerging modernist influences. The role of social media in amplifying modern beauty ideals creates internal conflicts for women striving to balance these with traditional expectations. The growing acceptance of cosmetic procedures indicates a shift toward integrating modern beauty standards within Iraqi society.

Public Views About Cosmetic Procedures in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Background In the past decade, there has been a clear, massive increase in the number of patients undergoing cosmetic procedures in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This study aims to compare the demographic characteristics of patients in Riyadh undergoing cosmetic procedures. Methodology This is an analytical, observational, and cross-sectional study used to seek the public views about cosmetic procedures in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia using the snowball sampling technique. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed electronically among the target population via social media. The questionnaire was pre-tested in a pilot study of 10 individuals to ensure comprehension and ease of administration and to determine the time needed to complete it. The final adjustments were made after the pilot study. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS Statistics version 25.0 (IBM Corp. Released 2017. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 25.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.). Results In the current study, we were able to collect the data from 600 participants, of whom females represented 527 (87.8%) of the sample. Satisfaction with their current physical appearance (370, 61.7%), financial factors (73, 12.2%), and fear of having the procedure (59, 9.8%) were the main reasons for refusing to undergo cosmetic procedures, while pleasing themselves (432, 72.1%), influence from others who have undergone cosmetic procedures (188, 31.4%), and personal dislike of one's appearance (184, 30.7%) were the main reasons for conducting cosmetic procedures. Firstly, gender showed a significant relationship with having undergone a cosmetic procedure (p-value = 0.018), with 9 (12.3%) of males and 131 (24.9%) of females reporting having undergone such a procedure. Age also played a role, with the 29-39 age group having the highest number of individuals (31.9%) who had undergone a cosmetic procedure. Conclusion This study provides valuable insights into the demographic characteristics, attitudes, and perceptions surrounding cosmetic procedures in Riyadh. The findings highlight the influence of cultural expectations, self-acceptance, social factors, and media on individuals' motivations and decision-making processes. The increasing acceptability of cosmetic interventions and the rising demand for aesthetic modifications in the locality suggest a shifting societal landscape.

Representaciones de estándares de belleza en profesionales sanitarias que atienden mujeres chilenas diagnosticadas con Trastornos de la Conducta Alimentaria / Representations of beauty standards in health care professionals who attend chilean women diagnosed with Eating Disorder

Resumen Los Estándares de Belleza (EB) cumplen un rol importante como fenómeno sociocultural cuya difusión en el mundo contemporáneo influyen en la manifestación de Trastornos de la Conducta Alimentaria (TCA), mayoritariamente en mujeres. Es así como a pesar de su formación, las Profesionales Sanitarias (PS) que intervienen en TCA no están exentas de la influencia de los EB. Es por ello que el objetivo de este estudio es describir las representaciones de los EB de las PS que atienden población chilena adulta joven diagnosticada con TCA. Se empleó una metodología cualitativa, a través de entrevistas en profundidad a nueve PS. Los resultados principales muestran que las profesionales coinciden en que el sistema sociocultural ha influido históricamente en la construcción de EB, dotando de mandatos y prototipos, llevando a las mujeres a caer en dietas perjudiciales para la salud o en TCA, con la finalidad de alcanzar el cuerpo esperado socialmente y sentir pertenencia. Siendo en la actualidad las redes sociales, familia, amigos, ámbito educativo y laboral mantenedores de estos EB. Es así como las profesionales han empleado distintas estrategias (p. ej., estilo de vida saludable, aceptación de la propia imagen corporal), para que estos EB no interfieran en su ejercicio profesional.

Abstract Beauty Standards (BS) have an outstanding role in our society, as a sociocultural phenomenon is easily spread in the contemporary world as they influence in people's Eating Disorders (ED) mostly in women. Thus, despite their studies, Health Professionals (HP) who work with eating disorders could be influenced by BS. For this reason, the aim of this study is to describe the representations of BE of the HP who attend young adult chilean population diagnosed with eating disorders. A qualitative methodology was used, through in-depth interviews. The main results show that professionals agree that the sociocultural system has historically influenced the construction of BS, providing mandates and prototypes, leading women to fall into harmful diets or TCA in order to reach the body that is accepted and developed a belonging feeling. Currently social networks, family, friends, educational and work environment maintain these BS. In consequence health professionals have used different strategies (i.e. healthy lifestyle, acceptance of their own body image), so that these BS do not interfere in their professional practice.

Readiness to accept Western standard of beauty and body satisfaction among Muslim girls with and without hijab.

The purpose of this paper was to determine whether there is a difference in the readiness to accept Western standards of beauty in which thinness is an ideal of beauty and attractiveness, as well in body and appearance satisfaction between Muslim adolescent girls attending madrassa and dressing in accordance with tradition, that is to say wearing hijab, and Muslim adolescent girls who do not wear hijab and who follow contemporary Western-influenced fashion trends. Both of these groups were also compared to a non-Muslim group of adolescent girls. The sample consisted of 75 Muslim adolescent girls with hijab, 75 Muslim adolescent girls without hijab and 75 Orthodox adolescent girls. The following instruments were used: the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26), the Sociocultural Attitudes towards Appearance Questionnaire (SATAQ-3) and the Contour Drawing Rating Scale (CDRS). The highest level of body satisfaction (despite this group having the highest body weight in the sample) was evident among Muslim adolescent girls attending madrassa and wearing hijab. They also showed significantly less pressure to attain the Western thin-ideal standards of beauty than adolescent girls who accept Western way of dressing. Research results indicate a significant role of socio-cultural factors in one's attitude towards the body image, but also opens the question of the role of religion as a protective factor when it comes to the body and appearance attitude among Muslim women who wear hijab.

Transtornos alimentares: o papel dos aspectos culturais no mundo contemporâneo / Eating disorders: the role of cultural aspects in the contemporary world / Transtornos alimentarios: el papel de los aspectos culturales en el mundo contemporáneo

Os transtornos alimentares são patologias caracterizadas primordialmente pelo medo mórbido de engordar. Vários são os fatores envolvidos tanto na etiologia quanto na manutenção e na gravidade dessas doenças, principalmente fatores individuais, familiares e culturais. Em relação a estes últimos, salienta-se o papel dos aspectos históricos, estéticos, midiáticos, transculturais, socioeconômicos, raciais e de gênero. Pesquisas atuais realizadas em diversas culturas demonstram a existência de uma relação entre esses fatores e os índices de anorexia nervosa e bulimia nervosa. A busca por um padrão estético globalizado (magreza), segundo a literatura, tem um papel central no aumento do número de casos. O objetivo deste artigo é apresentar uma discussão teórica acerca dos aspectos culturais envolvidos no aumento do número de casos de transtornos alimentares. Este trabalho pretende também destacar a necessidade de que profissionais de diversas áreas estejam atentos para os perigos do padrão de beleza atual, a fim de potencializar intervenções preventivas.(AU)

Eating disorders are pathologies mainly characterized by the morbid fear of gaining weight. Several factors comprise the etiology, the endurance and severity of these illnesses such as patient's individuality, family and culture. About the latter, the historical, aesthetic, the media, transcultural, socioeconomic, racial and gender roles are underlined. Recent research performed in various cultural backgrounds has shown the existence of a relationship between these factors and the levels of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. The aim of this article is to show a discussion about the cultural aspects involved in the increase number of cases of eating disorders. This paper aims to underline the need of experts of various fields to be aware of the dangers of the present beauty standards, so that preventive interventions can be addressed.(AU)

Los transtornos alimentarios son patologías caracterizadas primordialmente por el miedo mórbido de engordar. Varios son los factores involucrados ya sea en la etiología cuanto en la manutención y en la gravedad de esas enfermidades: individuales, familiares y culturales. Con relación a esos últimos, se resalta el papel de los aspectos históricos, estéticos, midiáticos, transculturales, socio económicos, raciales y de género. Investigaciones actuales realizadas en diferentes culturas muestran la existencia de una relación entre esos factores y los índices de anorexia nervosa y bulimia nervosa. El objetivo de ese artículo es presentar una discusión a cerca de los aspectos culturales involucrados en el aumento del número de casos de transtornos alimentarios. Ese trabajo pretende también destacar la necesidad de que profesionistas de diversas áreas estean atentos para los peligros del patrón de belleza actual, con la finalidad de potencializar intervenciones preventivas.(AU)

Transtornos alimentares: o papel dos aspectos culturais no mundo contemporâneo / Eating disorders: the role of cultural aspects in the contemporary world / Transtornos alimentarios: el papel de los aspectos culturales en el mundo contemporáneo

Os transtornos alimentares são patologias caracterizadas primordialmente pelo medo mórbido de engordar. Vários são os fatores envolvidos tanto na etiologia quanto na manutenção e na gravidade dessas doenças, principalmente fatores individuais, familiares e culturais. Em relação a estes últimos, salienta-se o papel dos aspectos históricos, estéticos, midiáticos, transculturais, socioeconômicos, raciais e de gênero. Pesquisas atuais realizadas em diversas culturas demonstram a existência de uma relação entre esses fatores e os índices de anorexia nervosa e bulimia nervosa. A busca por um padrão estético globalizado (magreza), segundo a literatura, tem um papel central no aumento do número de casos. O objetivo deste artigo é apresentar uma discussão teórica acerca dos aspectos culturais envolvidos no aumento do número de casos de transtornos alimentares. Este trabalho pretende também destacar a necessidade de que profissionais de diversas áreas estejam atentos para os perigos do padrão de beleza atual, a fim de potencializar intervenções preventivas.

Eating disorders are pathologies mainly characterized by the morbid fear of gaining weight. Several factors comprise the etiology, the endurance and severity of these illnesses such as patient's individuality, family and culture. About the latter, the historical, aesthetic, the media, transcultural, socioeconomic, racial and gender roles are underlined. Recent research performed in various cultural backgrounds has shown the existence of a relationship between these factors and the levels of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. The aim of this article is to show a discussion about the cultural aspects involved in the increase number of cases of eating disorders. This paper aims to underline the need of experts of various fields to be aware of the dangers of the present beauty standards, so that preventive interventions can be addressed.

Los transtornos alimentarios son patologías caracterizadas primordialmente por el miedo mórbido de engordar. Varios son los factores involucrados ya sea en la etiología cuanto en la manutención y en la gravedad de esas enfermidades: individuales, familiares y culturales. Con relación a esos últimos, se resalta el papel de los aspectos históricos, estéticos, midiáticos, transculturales, socio económicos, raciales y de género. Investigaciones actuales realizadas en diferentes culturas muestran la existencia de una relación entre esos factores y los índices de anorexia nervosa y bulimia nervosa. El objetivo de ese artículo es presentar una discusión a cerca de los aspectos culturales involucrados en el aumento del número de casos de transtornos alimentarios. Ese trabajo pretende también destacar la necesidad de que profesionistas de diversas áreas estean atentos para los peligros del patrón de belleza actual, con la finalidad de potencializar intervenciones preventivas.

Fat distribution patterns in young amenorrheic females.

The present study analyzes body fat distribution, a well-known and important indicator of reproductive capability, in young women between 18 and 28 years of age (mean=23.3 years) suffering from secondary amenorrhea and therefore temporary infertility resulting from self-starvation. Body composition parameters estimated by means of dual energy x-ray absorptiometry and the fat distribution index, indicating body shape, were compared with those of healthy controls. Although members of the infertile, amenorrheic group exhibited dramatically low body weight and total amount of body fat, and therefore a marked negative energy balance in comparison with the healthy controls, the sex-specific fat distribution patterns did not differ between infertile and fertile young women. In contrast, the lower the weight and total fat amount, the more gynoid the fat distribution, even in infertile women. This observation may be interpreted in an evolutionary sense: Our ancestors had to cope with frequent food shortages, even starvation, and therefore lengthy periods of negative energy balance. In addition to pregnancy and lactation, temporary infertility as a result of long-term negative energy balance was not an uncommon phenomenon in female life histories. Nevertheless, after a time of plenty, reproductive function recovered, and therefore the gynoid fat distribution patterns in temporarily infertile young women may be interpreted as signal of reproductive capability, which resumes after a time of surplus.