Perspectives in Body Image

For our final activity at PIBI, a workshop on future directions. First @dr-liz-evans.bsky.social presents recent reflections in a Delphi process on where we need to go with research to understand body image experience and development in childhood.

and second, Helena Lewis-Smith puts forward guidelines for conducting inclusive body image research. Important reflections on how all in research - even 'objective' quantitative work - choices should be made reflexively, with user/participant input, and with end use in mind from the start.

Last talk session at PiBI on body perception! Akansha Naraindas of @qubelfastofficial.bsky.social starts by showing that body dissatisfaction correlates with reduced interoceptive body awareness and reduced sensitivity to changes in body-based distances (but not perceived passable-gap size) in VR.

3rd up is Valentina Cazzato presnts data showing that in one study, high body dissatisfaction (via somatomap PCA) *and* reduced liking of gentle touch, increases risk for eating disoders. For others, affective benefits of touch may buffer against body dissatisfaction.

Last talk session at PiBI on body perception! Akansha Naraindas of @qubelfastofficial.bsky.social starts by showing that body dissatisfaction correlates with reduced interoceptive body awareness and reduced sensitivity to changes in body-based distances (but not perceived passable-gap size) in VR.

Now up: our session focusing on #SocialMedia. Beth Daniels starts off talking about how appearance-linked social media behaviours are a risk for body image concerns in Albanian women - again more evidence that social media time itself isn't the problem, but specific behaviours create risk.

Veya Seekis next showing that viewing nature pictures is as good as 'body positive' content or a social media 'cleanse' to reduce social media pressure and self-objectification (but no effect on body satisfaction).

Now up: our session focusing on #SocialMedia. Beth Daniels starts off talking about how appearance-linked social media behaviours are a risk for body image concerns in Albanian women - again more evidence that social media time itself isn't the problem, but specific behaviours create risk.

Starting Day 3 now with a talk from Emilie Mussbach on parent perspectives on body image and eating disorder services in South Asian communities in London and Katrina Holmes a Court on a systematic review of cognitive aspects of body dysmorphic disorder. #PIBI2025 #EatingDisorders #BodyImage

Final session of Day 2 at #PIBI2025 First Debora Blaso talks about how corrective surgery recipients feel when they first look at their body or face. Lots of strong emotions, especially when support given was low.

Next Isabella Tremonte talks on her qualitative synthesis of research on body image in athletes.

Now for our second plenary! The amazing Anne Becker talks to us about problematising the 'media and culture' explanation of globalising eating disorders. #Anthropology #PIBI2025 #PublicHealth #Cross-cultural #Psychology

Striking slide here highlighting the massive data gaps in our understanding of eating disorder prevalence.

In our 'Interventions' parallel session, Madison Vani starts us off with reviews of resources for parents to support their child's body image. Not so many available, often not age specific, not a lot of theory-based resources... Much work to be done! #BodyImage #DevelopmentalPsychology

Now Helen Cervera gives the results of the pilot of a media literacy intervention in Colombian schools. Significant effects were found for body esteem, media literacy, and (for girls) appearance comparison. Pupils reported sharing what they'd learned with others and facilitators benefitted too!

In our 'Interventions' parallel session, Madison Vani starts us off with reviews of resources for parents to support their child's body image. Not so many available, often not age specific, not a lot of theory-based resources... Much work to be done! #BodyImage #DevelopmentalPsychology

Next, Helena Lewis-Smith reports on a massive teacher-delivered RCT in rural India, showing benefits to body esteem, gender stereotypes and a 'chefs kiss' massive impact on appearance ideal internalisation!

Now starting our session on eating disorders @ #PiBI2025 Verity Pratt shows meta-analytic evidence that perfectionism explains c. 11% of variance in orthorexia in sport samples. Tugba Turkan shows that greater frequency of past dieting attempts predicted higher ED symptom scores.

Now Rebecca Boehme shows that TMS stimulation of the extra-striate body area prior to intensive perceptual training led to significant improvement in body satisfaction AND more 'normal' neural responses to own-body touch post training. @rebeccaboehme.bsky.social

Now starting our session on eating disorders @ #PiBI2025 Verity Pratt shows meta-analytic evidence that perfectionism explains c. 11% of variance in orthorexia in sport samples. Tugba Turkan shows that greater frequency of past dieting attempts predicted higher ED symptom scores.

Now for the second speed talk session! Rhea Milson starts with data showing that body shame is a key factor in the negative consequences of online harassment for women's eating disorder risk; Then Phoebe Gray presents amazing slides on body-talk and trust between personal trainers and clients!

Christina Packer investigates body image in 175 mid-life women (40-60) - social acceptance boosts body appreciation; beauty ideal internalisation reduces it. Next, Paolo Mancin reports qualitative data on the benefits of time in nature for improving body image in young women.