Body image and eating behaviors: A latent profile analysis

Abstract

Body image is multidimensional and less is known about how the combination of positive and negative body image relates to eating behaviors. We used a person-centered approach to identify profiles of body image and explore the relationship between profile membership, sex, age, race, and current marital status, and eating behaviors in a community sample of adults. We recruited 288 adults 18 and older living in the United States using Prolific Academic. Participants completed an online survey assessing body appreciation, functionality appreciation, body dissatisfaction, weight bias internalization, and adaptive and maladaptive eating behaviors. We used latent profile analysis to identify four distinct body image profiles: appreciation & mild dissatisfaction, functional appreciation & moderate dissatisfaction, strong dissatisfaction, and strong appreciation. Profile membership differed by sex with more women and younger adults in profiles higher in negative body image. The relationships between profiles and eating behaviors differed; the three profiles including negative body image had the lowest adaptive and highest maladaptive eating behaviors. The identification of clinically relevant profiles: (1) confirm positive and negative body image coexist, (2) identify high- and low-risk profiles of body image and eating behavior, and (3) offer preliminary suggestions for screening and tailoring preventive interventions.

Keywords: Adaptive and maladaptive eating behavior; Body appreciation; Body dissatisfaction; Functionality appreciation; Weight bias internalization.