DClinPsy Portfolio Volume 1 of 3 - University of Hertfordshire ...

When body image distress is very low, individuals may not engage in healthy eating and
exercise behaviors, even if necessary to improve health outcomes. When body image
distress is very high, individuals may fail to engage in healthy weight management
behaviors because of a perceived inability to make meaningful changes in their bodies, or
may engage in unhealthy dieting behaviors in a desperate attempt to lose weight.
Nevertheless, whilst this is an interesting concept, a five year longitudinal study that
considered this issue concluded that, in general, lower body satisfaction does not serve as
a motivator for engaging in healthy weight management behaviors, but rather predicts the
use of behaviors that may place adolescents at risk for weight gain and poorer overall
health, (Neumark-Sztainer, Paxton, Hannan, Hains and Story, 2006). Therefore,
Neumark-Sztainer et al, (2006) suggests that interventions with adolescents should strive
to enhance body satisfaction and avoid messages likely to lead to decreases in body
satisfaction.
The methodological strengths and weaknesses of the above studies will be considered
next in order to further evaluate the results and conclusions drawn.
Research Limitations
Many of the research studies followed a large sample size over a number of years, even
up to twenty years, (Keel, 2007). This type of study is highly valuable in providing an
understanding of aetiological and protective factors. A drawback of longitudinal studies
with such an ambitious time span is that variables may need to be differently measured or
questions differently phrased when applied to children of different ages (Roberts and
Bengtson, 1991). Although constructs may be measured in the same way at different time
points, the content of the answers may be different because the respondents have
matured. This issue is especially pertinent to studies involving periods of transition, such
as from childhood to adolescence, or adolescence to adulthood.
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