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Population-level policy recommendations for the prevention of disordered weight control behaviors: A scoping review
Student Authors
Samantha L TurnerUMass Chan Affiliations
Tan Chingfen Graduate School of NursingDocument Type
Journal ArticlePublication Date
2023-04-25Keywords
body dissatisfactionbody image
disordered eating
feeding and eating disorders
health education
public health
public policy
universal prevention
weight control behaviors
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Objective: The aim of this scoping review was to identify recommendations and gaps in knowledge surrounding the prevention of disordered weight control behaviors (DWCBs) through policy. Method: A search was conducted in several databases to identify English language articles that described an active policy, recommendation, guideline, or educational curriculum that could be implemented by governments or regulatory bodies to prevent DWCBs or related constructs (e.g., weight stigma, body dissatisfaction). Two researchers independently screened articles with oversight from a third researcher. Data were extracted from the final sample (n = 65) and analyzed qualitatively across all articles and within the domains of education, public policy, public health, industry regulation, and media. Results: Only a single empirical evaluation of an implemented policy to reduce DWCBs was identified. Over one-third of articles proposed recommendations relating to industry regulation and media (n = 24, 36.9%), followed by education (n = 21, 32.3%), public policy (n = 19, 29.2%), and public health (n = 10, 15.4%). Recommendations included school-based changes to curricula, staff training, and anti-bullying policies; legislation to ban weight discrimination; policies informed by strategic science; collaboration with researchers from other fields; de-emphasizing weight in health communications; diversifying body sizes and limiting modified images in media; and restricting the sale of weight-loss supplements. Discussion: The findings of this review highlight gaps in empirically evaluated policies to reduce DWCBs but also promising policy recommendations across several domains. Although some policy recommendations were supported by empirical evidence, others were primarily based on experts' knowledge, highlighting the need for greater research on population-level DWCBs prevention through policy. Public significance: Our scoping review of the evidence on policies for the prevention of disordered weight control behaviors identified several recommendations across the domains of education, public policy, public health, and industry regulation and media. Although few empirical investigations of implemented policies have been conducted, expert recommendations for policies to prevent disordered weight control behaviors among populations are plentiful and warrant future consideration by researchers and policymakers alike.Source
Raffoul A, Turner SL, Salvia MG, Austin SB. Population-level policy recommendations for the prevention of disordered weight control behaviors: A scoping review. Int J Eat Disord. 2023 Aug;56(8):1463-1479. doi: 10.1002/eat.23970. Epub 2023 Apr 25. PMID: 37096990.DOI
10.1002/eat.23970Permanent Link to this Item
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14038/52549PubMed ID
37096990Rights
© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1002/eat.23970