title: Impact of negative cognitions about body image on inflammatory status in relation to health.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evidence suggests that body dissatisfaction may relate to biological processes and that negative cognitions can influence physical health through the complex pathways linking psychological and biological factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study investigates the relationships between body image satisfaction, inflammation (cytokine levels), aerobic fitness level and obesity in 96 middle-aged men and women (48 normal and 48 overweight). All participants underwent measurements of body satisfaction, body composition, serological measurements of inflammation and aerobic capabilities assessment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Body image dissatisfaction uniquely predicted inflammation biomarkers, C-reactive protein and tumour necrosis factor-α, even when controlled for obesity indicators. Thus, body image dissatisfaction is strongly linked to inflammation processes and may promote the increase in cytokines, representing a relative metabolic risk, independent of most traditional risk factors, such as gender, body mass index and intra-abdominal (waist to hip ratio) adiposity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results highlight the fact that person's negative cognitions need to be considered in psychologically based interventions and strategies in treatment of obesity, including strategies for health promotion. Results contribute to the knowledge base of the complex pathways in the association between psychological factors and physical illness and some important attempts were made to explain the psychological pathways linking cognitions with inflammation.
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nutrition Counselling - Dietetics , University of Primorska , Izola , Slovenia.
authors.forename: Maša
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Černelič-Bizjak
authors.forename: Zala
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jenko-Pražnikar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001823:Body Composition; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002097:C-Reactive Protein