title: Effects of weight-focused social comparisons on diet and activity outcomes in overweight and obese young women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate social comparison processes as a potential mechanism by which social networks impact young women's weight control thoughts and behaviors and to examine whether social comparisons with close social ties (i.e., friends) have a greater influence on weight control outcomes relative to more emotionally distant ties.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using Ecological Momentary Assessment, overweight young adult women (N = 46; M age = 19; M BMI = 29) reported the nature and effects of weight-focused social comparisons on dieting and exercising intentions and on behaviors during their daily routine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Relative to social comparisons to targets of the same weight, weight-focused comparisons to both thinner and heavier individuals led to increased thoughts of dieting and exercising. Moreover, comparisons to thinner targets also increased the likelihood of engaging in actual dieting and exercising behaviors. Weight comparisons to friends amplified these effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Weight-focused social comparisons may be one mechanism by which social networks impact weight control thoughts and behaviors. Obesity interventions with young adults may achieve better outcomes by harnessing social comparison processes in treatment.
authors.affiliation: Bradley/Hasbro Children's Research Center/Rhode Island Hospital and the Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University, Providence, Rhode, Island, USA; Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rancourt
authors.forename: Tricia M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Leahey
authors.forename: Jessica Gokee
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: LaRose
authors.forename: Janis H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Crowther
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D004038:Diet, Reducing / Q000523:psychology; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008499:Medical Records; D009043:Motor Activity; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D050177:Overweight / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D012919:Social Behavior; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult