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Dysfunctional body investment versus body dissatisfaction: Relations with well-being and controlled motivations for obesity treatment

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Abstract

In this study, we investigated the associations between body image and psychological well-being, exploring the mediating role of controlled regulation for entering obesity treatment. In addition, we analyzed whether investment body image was more strongly associated with controlled regulation (and subsequent well-being) compared to evaluative body image. These analyses were performed controlling for baseline BMI effects. Participants were 139 overweight women (age: 38.0 ± 6.7 year; BMI: 32.0 ± 4.1 kg/m2) entering treatment. Evaluative and investment body image, controlled regulation, and psychological well-being were assessed. Body image investment was positively associated with controlled regulation; evaluative body image was not. Controlled regulation was negatively associated with self-esteem and psychological functioning. Controlled regulation partially mediated the effects of body image investment on self-esteem, but did not mediate its effects on psychological functioning. Results suggest that dysfunctional body image investment might undermine well-being within overweight women, partly by increasing controlled regulation for entering obesity treatment. Discussion focuses on the importance of enhancing body image and autonomy during treatment to improve well-being and weight outcomes.

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Acknowledgments

This study was partially funded by the Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation (grant number FCT-POCI/DES/57705/2004, and grant number SFRH/BD/40937/2007 attributed to Eliana Carraça) and the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (grant number 65565/2004). The investigators are also grateful to the Oeiras City Council, Nestlé Portugal, and IBESA for their additional financial support. All authors read and approved the final manuscript and have no competing interests to declare.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Human Kinetics, Technical University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal

    Eliana V. Carraça, Marlene N. Silva, Sílvia R. Coutinho, Paulo N. Vieira, Cláudia S. Minderico, Luís B. Sardinha & Pedro J. Teixeira

  2. School of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, UK

    David Markland

  3. Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Estrada Da Costa, Cruz Quebrada, 1495-688, Lisbon, Portugal

    Pedro J. Teixeira

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  1. Eliana V. Carraça
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  2. David Markland
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  3. Marlene N. Silva
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  4. Sílvia R. Coutinho
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  5. Paulo N. Vieira
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  8. Pedro J. Teixeira
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Correspondence to Pedro J. Teixeira.

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Carraça, E.V., Markland, D., Silva, M.N. et al. Dysfunctional body investment versus body dissatisfaction: Relations with well-being and controlled motivations for obesity treatment. Motiv Emot 35, 423–434 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-011-9230-0

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