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Do COVID-19-Related Stress, Being Overweight, and Body Dissatisfaction Contribute to More Disordered Eating in Polish Women?-A Cluster Analysis Approach.

Author
Abstract
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We hypothesized that women who are overweight, experiencing COVID-19-related stress, and with high body dissatisfaction would have significantly greater disordered eating than those of healthy weight, without stress, and with low body dissatisfaction. Participants ( = 1354 women; = 31.89 years, = 11.14) filled in the Contour Drawing Rating Scale, the Emotional Overeating Questionnaire, the Eating Motivation Survey, the Mindful Eating Questionnaire, and a COVID-19-related stress measure and sociodemographic survey. The cluster analysis technique revealed four distinct clusters: (a) Cluster 1 ( = 314): healthy body weight, no COVID-related stress, and low body dissatisfaction ( = 1.19); (b) Cluster 2 ( = 131): overweight, no COVID-related stress, and high body dissatisfaction ( = 2.41); (c) Cluster 3 ( = 597): healthy body weight, COVID-related stress, and low body dissatisfaction ( = 1.27); (d) Cluster 4 ( = 312): overweight, COVID-related stress, and high body dissatisfaction ( = 2.84). Generally, our outcomes partially support our hypothesis, as higher levels of some types of disordered eating were observed in women who were overweight with COVID-related stress and high body dissatisfaction (Cluster 4) as compared with women with healthy body weight, no COVID-related stress, and with low levels of body dissatisfaction (Cluster 1). Our results indicate that both body weight status, as well as COVID-19-related stress and body dissatisfaction, may contribute to the intensity of disordered eating. During future epidemic-related quarantines, this may be an argument in favor of organizing support regarding emotional functioning, body image, and eating behaviors, particularly for the most vulnerable groups-including overweight and obese women.

Year of Publication
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2021
Journal
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International journal of environmental research and public health
Volume
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18
Issue
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24
Date Published
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2021
ISSN Number
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1661-7827
URL
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https://www.mdpi.com/resolver?pii=ijerph182413100
DOI
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10.3390/ijerph182413100
Short Title
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Int J Environ Res Public Health
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