Effects of weight-focused social comparisons on diet and activity outcomes among overweight and obese young women

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.

[1]  N. Christakis,et al.  The Spread of Obesity in a Large Social Network Over 32 Years , 2007, The New England journal of medicine.

[2]  Raymond C Browning,et al.  Exploiting Social Networks to Mitigate the Obesity Epidemic , 2009, Obesity.

[3]  David Crawford,et al.  Is healthy behavior contagious: associations of social norms with physical activity and healthy eating , 2010, The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity.

[4]  R. Wing,et al.  Are standard behavioral weight loss programs effective for young adults? , 2009, International Journal of Obesity.

[5]  Jerry Suls,et al.  Social Comparison: Why, With Whom, and With What Effect? , 2002 .

[6]  C. Loria,et al.  Changes in risk factors for cardiovascular disease by baseline weight status in young adults who maintain or gain weight over 15 years: the CARDIA study , 2006, International Journal of Obesity.

[7]  Shelley E. Taylor,et al.  Theory and Research Concerning Social Comparisons of Personal Attributes , 2001 .

[8]  E. Ding,et al.  Does perception equal reality? Weight misperception in relation to weight-related attitudes and behaviors among overweight and obese US adults , 2011, The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity.

[9]  T. Wills.  Downward Comparison Principles in Social Psychology , 1981 .

[10]  Nicholas A Christakis,et al.  Social network concordance in food choice among spouses, friends, and siblings. , 2011, American journal of public health.

[11]  T. Leahey,et al.  An ecological momentary assessment of the effects of weight and shape social comparisons on women with eating pathology, high body dissatisfaction, and low body dissatisfaction. , 2011, Behavior therapy.

[12]  R. Wing,et al.  Social Influences Are Associated With BMI and Weight Loss Intentions in Young Adults , 2011, Obesity.

[13]  K. Mickelson,et al.  The frequency, nature, and effects of naturally occurring appearance-focused social comparisons. , 2007, Behavior therapy.

[14]  Lindsay Martin,et al.  Upward appearance comparison and the development of eating pathology in college women. , 2014, The International journal of eating disorders.

[15]  T. Leahey,et al.  An ecological momentary assessment of comparison target as a moderator of the effects of appearance-focused social comparisons. , 2008, Body image.

[16]  K. Narayan,et al.  Is there evidence that friends influence body weight? A systematic review of empirical research. , 2012, Social science & medicine.

[17]  P. Savage,et al.  Blood pressure in young blacks and whites: relevance of obesity and lifestyle factors in determining differences. The CARDIA Study. Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults. , 1996, Circulation.

[18]  T. Palfai,et al.  Social influence processes and college student drinking: the mediational role of alcohol outcome expectancies. , 2001, Journal of studies on alcohol.

[19]  Penny Gordon-Larsen,et al.  Five-year obesity incidence in the transition period between adolescence and adulthood: the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. , 2004, The American journal of clinical nutrition.

[20]  J. Harvey-Berino,et al.  Examining Social Influence on Participation and Outcomes among a Network of Behavioral Weight-Loss Intervention Enrollees , 2013, Journal of obesity.

[21]  C. Lewis,et al.  The impact of weight change on cardiovascular disease risk factors in young black and white adults: the CARDIA study , 2003, International Journal of Obesity.

[22]  C. Fairburn,et al.  Assessment of eating disorders: interview or self-report questionnaire? , 1994, The International journal of eating disorders.

[23]  L. Festinger.  A Theory of Social Comparison Processes , 1954 .

[24]  Alexandra F. Corning,et al.  Differential Social Comparison Processes in Women With and Without Eating Disorder Symptoms , 2006 .

[25]  Mariët Hagedoorn,et al.  The impact of social comparison information on motivation in patients with diabetes as a function of regulatory focus and self-efficacy. , 2010, Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association.

[26]  L. M. Ward,et al.  The role of the media in body image concerns among women: a meta-analysis of experimental and correlational studies. , 2008, Psychological bulletin.

[27]  Henry Wechsler,et al.  Social Smoking Among US College Students , 2004, Pediatrics.

[28]  A James O'Malley,et al.  Longitudinal analysis of large social networks: Estimating the effect of health traits on changes in friendship ties , 2011, Statistics in medicine.

[29]  Jennifer E. Pelletier,et al.  Social norms and dietary behaviors among young adults. , 2014, American journal of health behavior.

[30]  L. Vartanian,et al.  Accuracy in estimating the body weight of self and others: Impact of dietary restraint and BMI. , 2011, Body image.

[31]  Deborah F Tate,et al.  Preventing weight gain in young adults: a randomized controlled pilot study. , 2010, American journal of preventive medicine.

[32]  R. Wing,et al.  Differences in motivations and weight loss behaviors in young adults and older adults in the National Weight Control Registry , 2012, Obesity.

[33]  J. Kulik,et al.  Effects of social comparisons with peers on women's body satisfaction and exercise behavior. , 2007, The International journal of eating disorders.

[34]  L. Ricciardelli,et al.  Social comparisons, appearance related comments, contingent self-esteem and their relationships with body dissatisfaction and eating disturbance among women. , 2010, Eating behaviors.

[35]  J. Crowther,et al.  Social comparison as a predictor of body dissatisfaction: A meta-analytic review. , 2009, Journal of abnormal psychology.