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Sex differences in the links between disordered eating and admiration for peo...Scoti Riff
Background: Disordered eating in young women is positively associated with their admiration for women with anorexia nervosa. However, little is known about sex differences in this association, or whether the association extends to muscle dysmorphia.
Aims: The present study aimed to investigate sex differences in the associations between young peoples’ disordered eating and their admiration for people with anorexia nervosa and muscle dysmorphia.
Method: Male (n = 174) and female (n = 325) undergraduates read one of four descriptions of a male or female character with anorexia nervosa or muscle dysmorphia. Participants then answered questions about their admiration for the characters and completed a measure of disordered eating.
Results: Averaged across character diagnosis and character sex, female participants expressed greater desire to be like the characters than males. For females, moderate to large positive correlations were observed between disordered eating and admiration for characters with both anorexia nervosa and muscle dysmorphia. For males, moderate positive correlations emerged between disordered eating and admiration for muscle dysmorphia, and a single small positive correlation was observed for anorexia nervosa.
Conclusions: The results indicate important sex differences in the associations between young peoples’ disordered eating and their admiration for anorexia nervosa and muscle dysmorphia.
This study investigated whether set shifting difficulties and weak central coherence were associated with drive for muscularity and muscularity-oriented disordered eating in male undergraduates. The study found that greater set shifting difficulties and weaker central coherence uniquely predicted higher drive for muscularity. Additionally, greater set shifting difficulties uniquely predicted higher levels of muscularity-oriented disordered eating. These findings provide preliminary evidence that cognitive biases relating to set shifting and central coherence may also play a role in male-focused body image and eating concerns centered around muscularity.
Sex differences in the relationships between body dissatisfaction, quality of...Scoti Riff
1) The study examined sex differences in the relationships between body dissatisfaction, quality of life, and psychological distress in a sample of Australian adults.
2) The results showed that body dissatisfaction was associated with poorer mental health-related quality of life and greater psychological distress, and these relationships were stronger for men than women.
3) There was no significant interaction between sex and body dissatisfaction for physical health-related quality of life.
Stigma resistance, described as the capacity to counteract or remain unaffected by the stigma of mental illness, may play a crucial role in the fight against stigma. Little is known, however, about stigma resistance and its correlates in people with eating disorders. This study investigated stigma resistance in people currently diagnosed (n = 325) and recovered (n = 127) from anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and EDNOS. Participants completed an Internet survey that included the Stigma Resistance subscale of the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale together with a battery of psychosocial and psychiatric measures. Greater stigma resistance among the currently diagnosed was associated with less marked eating disorder and depression symptoms, higher self-esteem, more positive attitudes about seeking psychological treatment, and lower internalized stigma. Stigma resistance was significantly greater among the recovered than the currently diagnosed (Cohen’s d = 0.25), even after controlling for differences in eating disorder and depression symptoms, attitudes about seeking psychological help, self-esteem, years between symptom onset and diagnosis, and years since diagnosis. A minimal-to-low level of stigma resistance was exhibited by 26.5% of currently diagnosed participants compared to just 5.5% of recovered participants. Stigma resistance is a promising concept that warrants further study. Researchers should consider designing interventions that specifically cultivate stigma resistance in people with eating disorders as a complement to current interventions that target public perceptions of eating disorders. Clinicians may consider incorporating the concept into their practice to help patients rebuff the adverse effects of mental illness stigmatization.
Self-stigma of Seeking Help and Being Male Predict an Increased Likelihood of...Scoti Riff
To examine whether self-stigma of seeking psychological help and being male would be associated with an increased likelihood of having an undiagnosed eating disorder. A multi-national sample of 360 individuals with diagnosed eating disorders and 125 individuals with undiagnosed eating disorders were recruited. Logistic regression was used to identify variables affecting the likelihood of having an undiagnosed eating disorder, including sex, self-stigma of seeking psychological help, and perceived stigma of having a mental illness, controlling for a broad range of covariates. Being male and reporting greater self-stigma of seeking psychological help were independently associated with an increased likelihood of being undiagnosed. Further, the association between self-stigma of seeking psychological help and increased likelihood of being undiagnosed was significantly stronger for males than for females. Perceived stigma associated with help-seeking may be a salient barrier to treatment for eating disorders – particularly among male sufferers.
This document discusses muscularity-oriented disordered eating, including its prevalence, associations, and a new measure. It presents data showing that 20% of males experience muscle dissatisfaction and 18% experience body fat dissatisfaction. Muscularity-oriented disordered eating is associated with difficulties with emotion regulation, attentional biases, cognitive set shifting, conformity to masculine norms, and admiration of people with muscle dysmorphia. A definition and framework for muscularity-oriented disordered eating are provided, noting that it involves problematic eating, body image, use of appearance and performance enhancing drugs, nutritional supplements, and compulsive muscle-building exercise.
The Prevalence and Adverse Associations of Stigmatization in People with Eati...Scoti Riff
To date, studies of stigma relating to eating disorders have been largely confined to surveys of the public. We sought to examine the prevalence and correlates of stigma as reported by individuals with eating disorders. An online survey designed to assess frequency of exposure to potentially stigmatizing attitudes and beliefs as well as the perceived impact of this on health and well-being was completed by a cross-national sample of 317 individuals with anorexia nervosa (n = 165), bulimia nervosa (n = 66), or Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS; n = 86). Participants rated two beliefs as both particularly common and particularly damaging, namely “I should be able to just pull myself together” and “I am personally responsible for my condition”. Participants with bulimia nervosa more commonly experienced the belief that they had "no self-control" and male participants more commonly experienced the belief that they were “less of a man". More frequent stigmatization was associated with higher levels of eating disorder psychopathology, a longer duration of disorder, lower self-esteem, and more self-stigma of seeking psychological help. Stigma towards individuals with eating disorders, as experienced by sufferers, is common and associated with numerous adverse outcomes. The perceptions that eating disorders are trivial and self-inflicted should be a focus of destigmatization interventions. Efforts to reduce stigma towards individuals with bulimia nervosa may need to focus on perceptions of self-control, whereas efforts to reduce stigma towards males with eating disorders may need to focus on perceptions of masculinity/manhood.
Sex differences in the links between disordered eating and admiration for peo...Scoti Riff
Background: Disordered eating in young women is positively associated with their admiration for women with anorexia nervosa. However, little is known about sex differences in this association, or whether the association extends to muscle dysmorphia.
Aims: The present study aimed to investigate sex differences in the associations between young peoples’ disordered eating and their admiration for people with anorexia nervosa and muscle dysmorphia.
Method: Male (n = 174) and female (n = 325) undergraduates read one of four descriptions of a male or female character with anorexia nervosa or muscle dysmorphia. Participants then answered questions about their admiration for the characters and completed a measure of disordered eating.
Results: Averaged across character diagnosis and character sex, female participants expressed greater desire to be like the characters than males. For females, moderate to large positive correlations were observed between disordered eating and admiration for characters with both anorexia nervosa and muscle dysmorphia. For males, moderate positive correlations emerged between disordered eating and admiration for muscle dysmorphia, and a single small positive correlation was observed for anorexia nervosa.
Conclusions: The results indicate important sex differences in the associations between young peoples’ disordered eating and their admiration for anorexia nervosa and muscle dysmorphia.
This study investigated whether set shifting difficulties and weak central coherence were associated with drive for muscularity and muscularity-oriented disordered eating in male undergraduates. The study found that greater set shifting difficulties and weaker central coherence uniquely predicted higher drive for muscularity. Additionally, greater set shifting difficulties uniquely predicted higher levels of muscularity-oriented disordered eating. These findings provide preliminary evidence that cognitive biases relating to set shifting and central coherence may also play a role in male-focused body image and eating concerns centered around muscularity.
Sex differences in the relationships between body dissatisfaction, quality of...Scoti Riff
1) The study examined sex differences in the relationships between body dissatisfaction, quality of life, and psychological distress in a sample of Australian adults.
2) The results showed that body dissatisfaction was associated with poorer mental health-related quality of life and greater psychological distress, and these relationships were stronger for men than women.
3) There was no significant interaction between sex and body dissatisfaction for physical health-related quality of life.
Stigma resistance, described as the capacity to counteract or remain unaffected by the stigma of mental illness, may play a crucial role in the fight against stigma. Little is known, however, about stigma resistance and its correlates in people with eating disorders. This study investigated stigma resistance in people currently diagnosed (n = 325) and recovered (n = 127) from anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and EDNOS. Participants completed an Internet survey that included the Stigma Resistance subscale of the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale together with a battery of psychosocial and psychiatric measures. Greater stigma resistance among the currently diagnosed was associated with less marked eating disorder and depression symptoms, higher self-esteem, more positive attitudes about seeking psychological treatment, and lower internalized stigma. Stigma resistance was significantly greater among the recovered than the currently diagnosed (Cohen’s d = 0.25), even after controlling for differences in eating disorder and depression symptoms, attitudes about seeking psychological help, self-esteem, years between symptom onset and diagnosis, and years since diagnosis. A minimal-to-low level of stigma resistance was exhibited by 26.5% of currently diagnosed participants compared to just 5.5% of recovered participants. Stigma resistance is a promising concept that warrants further study. Researchers should consider designing interventions that specifically cultivate stigma resistance in people with eating disorders as a complement to current interventions that target public perceptions of eating disorders. Clinicians may consider incorporating the concept into their practice to help patients rebuff the adverse effects of mental illness stigmatization.
Self-stigma of Seeking Help and Being Male Predict an Increased Likelihood of...Scoti Riff
To examine whether self-stigma of seeking psychological help and being male would be associated with an increased likelihood of having an undiagnosed eating disorder. A multi-national sample of 360 individuals with diagnosed eating disorders and 125 individuals with undiagnosed eating disorders were recruited. Logistic regression was used to identify variables affecting the likelihood of having an undiagnosed eating disorder, including sex, self-stigma of seeking psychological help, and perceived stigma of having a mental illness, controlling for a broad range of covariates. Being male and reporting greater self-stigma of seeking psychological help were independently associated with an increased likelihood of being undiagnosed. Further, the association between self-stigma of seeking psychological help and increased likelihood of being undiagnosed was significantly stronger for males than for females. Perceived stigma associated with help-seeking may be a salient barrier to treatment for eating disorders – particularly among male sufferers.
This document discusses muscularity-oriented disordered eating, including its prevalence, associations, and a new measure. It presents data showing that 20% of males experience muscle dissatisfaction and 18% experience body fat dissatisfaction. Muscularity-oriented disordered eating is associated with difficulties with emotion regulation, attentional biases, cognitive set shifting, conformity to masculine norms, and admiration of people with muscle dysmorphia. A definition and framework for muscularity-oriented disordered eating are provided, noting that it involves problematic eating, body image, use of appearance and performance enhancing drugs, nutritional supplements, and compulsive muscle-building exercise.
The Prevalence and Adverse Associations of Stigmatization in People with Eati...Scoti Riff
To date, studies of stigma relating to eating disorders have been largely confined to surveys of the public. We sought to examine the prevalence and correlates of stigma as reported by individuals with eating disorders. An online survey designed to assess frequency of exposure to potentially stigmatizing attitudes and beliefs as well as the perceived impact of this on health and well-being was completed by a cross-national sample of 317 individuals with anorexia nervosa (n = 165), bulimia nervosa (n = 66), or Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS; n = 86). Participants rated two beliefs as both particularly common and particularly damaging, namely “I should be able to just pull myself together” and “I am personally responsible for my condition”. Participants with bulimia nervosa more commonly experienced the belief that they had "no self-control" and male participants more commonly experienced the belief that they were “less of a man". More frequent stigmatization was associated with higher levels of eating disorder psychopathology, a longer duration of disorder, lower self-esteem, and more self-stigma of seeking psychological help. Stigma towards individuals with eating disorders, as experienced by sufferers, is common and associated with numerous adverse outcomes. The perceptions that eating disorders are trivial and self-inflicted should be a focus of destigmatization interventions. Efforts to reduce stigma towards individuals with bulimia nervosa may need to focus on perceptions of self-control, whereas efforts to reduce stigma towards males with eating disorders may need to focus on perceptions of masculinity/manhood.
Information processing biases in muscle dysmorphia and anorexia nervosaScoti Riff
This document discusses information processing biases in muscle dysmorphia and anorexia nervosa. It summarizes two planned studies on this topic. The first study will examine set shifting difficulties and weak central coherence in men diagnosed with anorexia or muscle dysmorphia compared to controls. The second study will examine the relationship between set shifting, central coherence and drive for muscularity/muscularity-oriented disordered eating in male undergraduates. It notes that current measures of disordered eating focus on thinness and do not capture behaviors driven by a desire for muscularity. The document proposes developing a new measure, the Muscularity-Oriented Eating Test, to better assess disordered eating in the pursuit of muscularity.
Men, muscles and masculinity: The general practitioner and the male experienc...Scoti Riff
The prevalence of body dissatisfaction and disordered eating amongst males is on the rise. Early figures that men accounted for 1 in 10 diagnoses of anorexia and bulimia nervosa are now considered underestimates, and researchers have increasingly focused on new disorders, such as muscle dysmorphia, that capture the “male experience” of wanting a more muscular body. I review the nature and prevalence of male body dissatisfaction and disordered eating, and explore their relationship with traditional notions of masculinity. I further review the stigmatisation of males with body image and eating disorders, and discuss the challenge that stigma represents to treatment seekers and to health professionals. In addition, I explore the concept of muscularity-oriented disordered eating and some of its major components, including nutritional supplements, steroid use, and compulsive exercise. Finally, the role of the general practitioner in recognising and addressing male body dissatisfaction and disordered eating is addressed, and guidelines for working with males are suggested.
Stigmatization of anorexia nervosa and muscle dysmorphiaScoti Riff
The nature and extent of stigma towards individuals with anorexia nervosa and muscle dysmorphia remains underexplored. This study investigated attitudes and beliefs likely to be conducive to stigmatisation of individuals with these conditions. Male and female undergraduate students (N = 361) read one of four vignettes describing a fictional male or female character with anorexia nervosa or muscle dysmorphia, after which they responded to a series of questions addressing potentially stigmatising attitudes and beliefs towards each character. Characters with anorexia nervosa were more stigmatised than characters with muscle dysmorphia, female characters were more stigmatised than male characters, and male participants were more stigmatising than female participants. A very large effect of character diagnosis on masculinity was observed, such that characters with anorexia nervosa were perceived as less masculine than characters with muscle dysmorphia, and this effect was more pronounced amongst male participants. However, no significant corresponding effects were observed for femininity. Females with anorexia nervosa may be particularly susceptible to stigmatisation, especially by males. Anorexia nervosa and muscle dysmorphia are perceived as “female” and “male” disorders respectively, in line with societal gender role expectations, and this stigmatisation is tied more strongly to perceptions of sufferers’ masculinity than femininity.
Breakfast of champions: Steroids and the men who use themScoti Riff
Muscularity is the single word that best distinguishes the male and female experience of eating disorders and body dissatisfaction. We are increasingly confronted by the facts that a) men and women pursue different body shapes, b) overvaluation of different body shapes leads to different forms of disordered eating and exercise, c) the current framework of disordered eating is thinness- and fat-centric, and d) muscularity-oriented disordered eating and body dissatisfaction are becoming increasingly prevalent. Anabolic steroids, described as the “breakfast of champions” by former bodybuilder, movie star, and Governor of the US state of California Arnold Schwarzenegger, are perhaps the most clear-cut example of an eating disorder behaviour that is motivated by the overvaluation of a muscular body rather than a skinny body. For decades, steroids have attracted fascination from the general public, politicians, and the scientific and sporting communities, often becoming embroiled in heated discussions about cheating, “roid rage,” and violence. However, despite all this attention, most of the discourse surrounding steroids is wildly misinformed, politicised, or sensationalised. We, the community of eating disorder researchers, clinicians, and nutritionists, are particularly well-suited to discuss and contribute to issues surrounding body image, eating and exercise. If local and population-level efforts to encourage body dissatisfied men to access the resources our community have to offer are to succeed, it is imperative that we arm ourselves with the truth about steroids. This workshop discusses what steroids are, their history, their legal status, the short- and long-term positives and negatives of their use, what a typical “steroid cycle” is, and the recent phenomena of steroid dependence and muscle dysmorphia. I also provide a mock-demonstration of “pinning”, the process by which steroids are injected into the body, so that participants may foster an appreciation of what taking steroids actually entails.
ICED 2014 Workshop on Males with Eating DisordersScoti Riff
Eating disorders in males are understudied, underrecognised and misunderstood. Despite evidence that males constitute 25-33% of diagnoses of anorexia and bulimia nervosa, and up to 50% of diagnoses of binge eating disorder, limited research has focused on the “male experience” of eating and body image concerns. In addition, researchers and clinicians have only recently begun to focus on the role that muscularity plays in males with eating and body image psychopathology. We present evidence that disordered eating behaviours are increasing more rapidly in men than in women, particularly with regard to binge eating. We further present a clinical comparison of men with anorexia nervosa and muscle dysmorphia (“reverse anorexia”) and review community-held attitudes and beliefs about people with these conditions. We conclude with a discussion of clinical treatment guidelines for males with eating disorders. This workshop will (1) present an overview of the evidence base pertinent to males with eating disorders, (2) evaluate evidence for the prevalence of disordered eating amongst males, compare the phenomenology of muscle dysmorphia and anorexia nervosa, and review the stigmatization of males with anorexia nervosa and muscle dysmorphia. Finally, this workshop 3) details treatment guidelines for clinicians working with males.
“Less of a man”: Stigma, masculinity, and the male experience of eating disor...Scoti Riff
Men experience eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and muscle dysmorphia. However, eating disorders are often viewed as a "woman's problem" and men who have eating disorders experience stigma. Adherence to masculine norms prevents many men from seeking treatment. The document examines how masculinity, media portrayals of the ideal male body, and stigma impact the experiences of men with different types of eating disorders like anorexia nervosa and muscle dysmorphia.
Information processing biases in muscle dysmorphia and anorexia nervosaScoti Riff
This document discusses information processing biases in muscle dysmorphia and anorexia nervosa. It summarizes two planned studies on this topic. The first study will examine set shifting difficulties and weak central coherence in men diagnosed with anorexia or muscle dysmorphia compared to controls. The second study will examine the relationship between set shifting, central coherence and drive for muscularity/muscularity-oriented disordered eating in male undergraduates. It notes that current measures of disordered eating focus on thinness and do not capture behaviors driven by a desire for muscularity. The document proposes developing a new measure, the Muscularity-Oriented Eating Test, to better assess disordered eating in the pursuit of muscularity.
Men, muscles and masculinity: The general practitioner and the male experienc...Scoti Riff
The prevalence of body dissatisfaction and disordered eating amongst males is on the rise. Early figures that men accounted for 1 in 10 diagnoses of anorexia and bulimia nervosa are now considered underestimates, and researchers have increasingly focused on new disorders, such as muscle dysmorphia, that capture the “male experience” of wanting a more muscular body. I review the nature and prevalence of male body dissatisfaction and disordered eating, and explore their relationship with traditional notions of masculinity. I further review the stigmatisation of males with body image and eating disorders, and discuss the challenge that stigma represents to treatment seekers and to health professionals. In addition, I explore the concept of muscularity-oriented disordered eating and some of its major components, including nutritional supplements, steroid use, and compulsive exercise. Finally, the role of the general practitioner in recognising and addressing male body dissatisfaction and disordered eating is addressed, and guidelines for working with males are suggested.
Stigmatization of anorexia nervosa and muscle dysmorphiaScoti Riff
The nature and extent of stigma towards individuals with anorexia nervosa and muscle dysmorphia remains underexplored. This study investigated attitudes and beliefs likely to be conducive to stigmatisation of individuals with these conditions. Male and female undergraduate students (N = 361) read one of four vignettes describing a fictional male or female character with anorexia nervosa or muscle dysmorphia, after which they responded to a series of questions addressing potentially stigmatising attitudes and beliefs towards each character. Characters with anorexia nervosa were more stigmatised than characters with muscle dysmorphia, female characters were more stigmatised than male characters, and male participants were more stigmatising than female participants. A very large effect of character diagnosis on masculinity was observed, such that characters with anorexia nervosa were perceived as less masculine than characters with muscle dysmorphia, and this effect was more pronounced amongst male participants. However, no significant corresponding effects were observed for femininity. Females with anorexia nervosa may be particularly susceptible to stigmatisation, especially by males. Anorexia nervosa and muscle dysmorphia are perceived as “female” and “male” disorders respectively, in line with societal gender role expectations, and this stigmatisation is tied more strongly to perceptions of sufferers’ masculinity than femininity.
Breakfast of champions: Steroids and the men who use themScoti Riff
Muscularity is the single word that best distinguishes the male and female experience of eating disorders and body dissatisfaction. We are increasingly confronted by the facts that a) men and women pursue different body shapes, b) overvaluation of different body shapes leads to different forms of disordered eating and exercise, c) the current framework of disordered eating is thinness- and fat-centric, and d) muscularity-oriented disordered eating and body dissatisfaction are becoming increasingly prevalent. Anabolic steroids, described as the “breakfast of champions” by former bodybuilder, movie star, and Governor of the US state of California Arnold Schwarzenegger, are perhaps the most clear-cut example of an eating disorder behaviour that is motivated by the overvaluation of a muscular body rather than a skinny body. For decades, steroids have attracted fascination from the general public, politicians, and the scientific and sporting communities, often becoming embroiled in heated discussions about cheating, “roid rage,” and violence. However, despite all this attention, most of the discourse surrounding steroids is wildly misinformed, politicised, or sensationalised. We, the community of eating disorder researchers, clinicians, and nutritionists, are particularly well-suited to discuss and contribute to issues surrounding body image, eating and exercise. If local and population-level efforts to encourage body dissatisfied men to access the resources our community have to offer are to succeed, it is imperative that we arm ourselves with the truth about steroids. This workshop discusses what steroids are, their history, their legal status, the short- and long-term positives and negatives of their use, what a typical “steroid cycle” is, and the recent phenomena of steroid dependence and muscle dysmorphia. I also provide a mock-demonstration of “pinning”, the process by which steroids are injected into the body, so that participants may foster an appreciation of what taking steroids actually entails.
ICED 2014 Workshop on Males with Eating DisordersScoti Riff
Eating disorders in males are understudied, underrecognised and misunderstood. Despite evidence that males constitute 25-33% of diagnoses of anorexia and bulimia nervosa, and up to 50% of diagnoses of binge eating disorder, limited research has focused on the “male experience” of eating and body image concerns. In addition, researchers and clinicians have only recently begun to focus on the role that muscularity plays in males with eating and body image psychopathology. We present evidence that disordered eating behaviours are increasing more rapidly in men than in women, particularly with regard to binge eating. We further present a clinical comparison of men with anorexia nervosa and muscle dysmorphia (“reverse anorexia”) and review community-held attitudes and beliefs about people with these conditions. We conclude with a discussion of clinical treatment guidelines for males with eating disorders. This workshop will (1) present an overview of the evidence base pertinent to males with eating disorders, (2) evaluate evidence for the prevalence of disordered eating amongst males, compare the phenomenology of muscle dysmorphia and anorexia nervosa, and review the stigmatization of males with anorexia nervosa and muscle dysmorphia. Finally, this workshop 3) details treatment guidelines for clinicians working with males.
“Less of a man”: Stigma, masculinity, and the male experience of eating disor...Scoti Riff
Men experience eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and muscle dysmorphia. However, eating disorders are often viewed as a "woman's problem" and men who have eating disorders experience stigma. Adherence to masculine norms prevents many men from seeking treatment. The document examines how masculinity, media portrayals of the ideal male body, and stigma impact the experiences of men with different types of eating disorders like anorexia nervosa and muscle dysmorphia.