Definition
While risk factors are defined in various ways and many factors have been associated with eating disorders (Jacobi et al. 2004), the most important risk factors for an eating disorder preventive intervention are those that are found to be causative, that is, those with risk factors have a much higher probability of developing a disorder than those who do not, and changing the magnitude of the risk factor can reduce the onset of the disorder. The latter assumes that a risk factor is variablein the sense that it can be reduced through intervention. There is evidence that weight/shape concerns are both variable and causative risk factors. Weight concerns are usually defined both in terms of actual weight but also fear of gaining weight and even what methods the individual may employ to maintain or lose weight. Of note, weight and shape concerns are related to body dissatisfaction but the former is a broader concept. Individuals with weight and shape concerns generally have...
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References and Further Reading
Beinter, A., Jacobi, C., & Taylor, C. B. (2012). Effects of an Internet-based prevention program for eating disorders in the U.S. and Germany – A Meta-analytic Review. European Eating Disorders Review, 20, 1–8.
Calzo, J. P., Sonneville, K. R., Haines, J., Blood, E. A., Field, A. E., & Austin, S. B. (2012). The development of associations among body mass index, body dissatisfaction, and weight and shape concern in adolescent boys and girls. Journal of Adolescent Health, 51, 517–523.
Cooper, Z., & Fairburn, C. G. (1987). The eating disorder examination: A semistructured interview for the assessment of the specific psychopathology of eating disorders. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 6, 1–8.
Jacobi, C., Hayward, C., de Zwaan, M., Kraemer, H. C., & Agras, W. S. (2004). Coming to terms with risk factors for eating disorders: Application of risk terminology and suggestions for a general taxonomy. Psychological Bulletin, 130, 19–65.
Jacobi, C., Fittig, E., Bryson, W. W., Wilfley, D., Kraemer, H. C., & Taylor, C. B. (2011). Who is really at risk? Identifying risk factors for subthreshold and full syndrome eating disorders in a high-risk sample. Psychological Medicine, 41, 1939–1949.
Killen, J. D., Taylor, C. B., Hammer, L. D., Litt, I., Wilson, D. M., Rich, T., Hayward, C., Simmonds, B., Kraemer, H., & Varady, A. (1993). An attempt to modify unhealthful eating attitudes and weight regulation practices of young adolescent girls. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 13, 369–384.
Killen, J. D., Hayward, C., Wilson, D. M., Taylor, C. B., Hammer, L. D., Litt, I., Simmonds, B., & Haydel, F. (1994). Factors associated with eating disorder symptoms in a community sample of 11- and 12-year-old girls. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 15, 357–367.
Killen, J. D., Taylor, C. B., Hayward, C., Haydel, F., Wilson, D. M., Hammer, L., Kraemer, H., Blair-Greiner, A., & Strachowski, D. (1996). Weight concerns influence the development of eating disorders: A four-year prospective study. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 64, 936–940.
Stice, E. (2002). Risk and maintenance factors for eating pathology: A meta-analytic review. Psychological Bulletin, 128, 825–848.
Taylor, C. B., Bryson, S., Luce, K. H., Cunning, D., Celio, A., Abascal, L. B., Rockwell, R., Dev, P., Winzelberg, A. W., & Wilfley, D. E. (2006). Prevention of eating disorders in at-risk college-age women. Archives of General Psychiatry, 63, 831–838.
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Taylor, B.C. (2015). Weight and Shape Concern and Body Image as Risk Factors for Eating Disorders. In: Wade, T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Feeding and Eating Disorders. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-087-2_93-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-087-2_93-1
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