Watching reality weight loss TV. The effects on body satisfaction, mood, and snack food consumption.
The present study investigated the influence of a weight loss reality TV show on body satisfaction, mood and food consumption. Young Australian women (N = 99) first completed baseline measures of state body satisfaction and mood. They were then randomly allocated to either a weight loss or a home renovation programme and were provided with snack foods during viewing. Post-measures included state body satisfaction, state mood and trait dietary restraint and snack food consumption. BMI moderated the relationship between condition and body satisfaction and mood. Larger women experienced less body satisfaction and less positive mood in response to the weight loss programme. Dietary restraint moderated the relationship between condition and food consumption. A greater percentage of women with lower dietary restraint ate in the control condition; whilst a greater percentage of women with higher dietary restraint ate food whilst watching the weight loss programme. These findings highlight the potential negative impact of weight-focused reality TV on mood, body satisfaction and snack food consumption among some women.
School of Psychology, Flinders University, Adelaide 5001, Australia.
Rebecca
R
Bourn
School of Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide 5001, Australia. Electronic address: Ivanka.Prichard@flinders.edu.au.
Ivanka
I
Prichard
School of Psychology, Social Work & Social Policy, University of South Australia, Adelaide 5001, Australia.
Amanda D
AD
Hutchinson
Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer, Flinders University, Adelaide 5001, Australia; Cancer Council SA, Eastwood, South Australia 5063, Australia.
Carlene
C
Wilson
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D001315:Australia; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004435:Eating; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology*; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D000068356:Self-Control; D062410:Snacks; D013690:Television; D015431:Weight Loss; D055815:Young Adult
Body satisfaction; Dietary restraint; Food consumption; Mood; Reality TV; Social comparison