Repeated exposure to the thin ideal and implications for the self: Two weight loss program studies

Klesse, Anne-Kathrin; Goukens, Caroline; Geyskens, Kelly; Ruyter, J.C. de

doi:10.1016/j.ijresmar.2012.06.003

Cited by 14 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…On the one hand, two studies on snacking frequency over 2 weeks indicate that an environmental dieting cue (a photograph of a slim model) can reduce the influence of unhealthy eating habits (Ohtomo, 2017). On the other hand, a similar environmental dieting cue (a picture of a slim model) was found not to help individuals lose weight during two "weight loss programs" that utilized eating diaries over periods of 1 week (Klesse et al, 2012; see for a further example, Stice et al, 2001). In the first weight loss program, the cover of an eating diary depicted either a thin model or a measuring tape; in the second, the cover of the eating diary depicted either a thin model or the same model adjusted to appear normal in size.…”

Section: Scant Evidence On Environmental Dieting Cues' Effects Over Amentioning

confidence: 99%

A Dieting Facilitator on the Fridge Door: Can Dieters Deliberately Apply Environmental Dieting Cues to Lose Weight?

et al. 2020

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Individuals exposed to dieting-related environmental cues have been repeatedly shown to be better able to resist tempting food. This especially applies to restrained eaters who hold a chronic dieting goal. Thus far, mainly short-term effects of environmental dieting cues have been examined and the individuals were typically unaware of being influenced. Yet, it is unclear whether individuals can deliberately apply environmental dieting cues for themselves to facilitate the pursuit of the longer-term goal of losing weight. The present longitudinal study applied a 2 (cue: visually dieting-related vs. visually neutral cue) × 2 (awareness: being aware vs. not being aware of the cue’s facilitating influence) between-subjects design for 6 months (N = 166 participants who started the study; Mage = 47.85 years; 69.9% female; MBMI = 29.07 kg/m2). Our results provide preliminary indications that cue, awareness, and restrained eating interact. The results suggest that high (vs. low) restrained eaters could deliberately apply environmental dieting cues for themselves to facilitate losing weight. However, further studies are needed to explore the effects of environmental dieting cues over a longer period of time.

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Section: Scant Evidence On Environmental Dieting Cues' Effects Over Amentioning

confidence: 99%

A Dieting Facilitator on the Fridge Door: Can Dieters Deliberately Apply Environmental Dieting Cues to Lose Weight?

et al. 2020

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“…Because losing weight is a long-term process, another question that arises is what would happen if cues are applied repeatedly. To our knowledge, there is very little evidence revealing the effects of repeatedly exposing individuals to an environmental weight-or health-related cue (Klesse, Goukens, Geyskens, & Ruyter, 2012). A constant reactivation of goals and a habituation to the cue with a decreasing effect of the cue (Rankin et al, 2009) are both conceivable.…”

Section: Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A nudge in a healthier direction: How environmental cues help restrained eaters pursue their weight-control goal

2017

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Losing weight is a goal for many people, but it is hard to pursue. However, dieting cues in the environment hold promise for improving individuals' eating behavior. For example, exposure to thin, human-like sculptures by the artist Alberto Giacometti has been found to promote healthy snack choices at a vending machine. Whether health- or weight-related processes drive such effects has not yet been determined. However, a detailed understanding of the content-related drivers of environmental cues' effects provides the first indications regarding a cue's possible use. Therefore, two laboratory studies were conducted. They examined the Giacometti sculptures' effects on unhealthy and healthy food intake (Study 1) and on the completion of weight- and health-related fragmented words (Study 2). Study 1 indicated that the sculptures are weight-related by showing that they reduced food intake independent of food healthiness. Furthermore, the "Giacometti effect" was moderated by restrained eating. Restrained eaters, who are known for their weight-control goal, ate less after having been exposed to the thin sculptures. The results of Study 2 pointed in the same direction. Restrained eaters completed more weight-related words after being exposed to the sculptures. Overall, these studies suggest that the thin sculptures are primarily weight-related cues and particularly helpful for restrained eaters. Environmental weight-control cues such as the Giacometti sculptures could act as a counterforce to our obesogenic environment and help restrained eaters pursue their weight-control goal. In this way, they could nudge food decisions in a healthier direction.

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“…By wearing this clothing, the consumer is able to move his self-conception one step closer to his aspirational "thin" identity. A great deal of advertising and mass-media communication also appeals to these aspirational self-conceptions by presenting models that symbolize what the consumer wishes to be (Klesse, Goukens, Geyskens, & de Ruyter, 2012;Richins, 1991).…”

Section: The Identity-verification Principlementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Research has shown that when individuals do not feel they have the power to achieve an identity ideal, their motivation to persist in their pursuit of the ideal declines (Chan, Karbowski, Monty, & Perlmuter, 1986;Norman & Aron, 2003). This suggests that brands should be careful not to highlight imagery that is aspirational but unattainable (Klesse et al, 2012).…”

Section: Identity-verification Principlementioning

confidence: 99%

Identity-Based Consumer Behavior

et al. 2012

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Although the influence of identity on consumer behavior has been documented in many streams of literature, the absence of a consistent definition of identity and of generally accepted principles regarding the drivers of identity-based behavior complicates comparisons across these literatures. To resolve that problem, we propose a simple but inclusive definition of identity. Identity can be defined as any category label with which a consumer selfassociates that is amenable to a clear picture of what a person in that category looks like, thinks, feels and does. Building from this definition, we propose the following five basic principles that can help researchers model the process of identity formation and expression:(1) Identity Salience: identity processing increases when the identity is an active component of the self; (2) Identity Association: the non-conscious association of stimuli with a positive and salient identity improves a person's response to the stimuli; (3) Identity Relevance: the deliberative evaluation of identity-linked stimuli depends on how diagnostic the identity is in the relevant domain; (4) Identity Verification: individuals monitor their own behaviors to manage and reinforce their identities; and (5) Identity Conflict: identity-linked behaviors help consumers manage the relative prominence of multiple identities. To illustrate the potential usefulness of these principles for guiding identity research, we discuss new avenues for identity research and explain how these principles could help guide investigations into these areas.

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Repeated exposure to the thin ideal and implications for the self: Two weight loss program studies

Cited by 14 publications

References 46 publications

A Dieting Facilitator on the Fridge Door: Can Dieters Deliberately Apply Environmental Dieting Cues to Lose Weight?

A Dieting Facilitator on the Fridge Door: Can Dieters Deliberately Apply Environmental Dieting Cues to Lose Weight?

A nudge in a healthier direction: How environmental cues help restrained eaters pursue their weight-control goal

Identity-Based Consumer Behavior

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