Anglia Ruskin Research Online (ARRO)
Browse
Todd_et_al_2020.docx (106.7 kB)

Greater Gastric Interoception is Associated with More Positive Body Image: Evidence from Adults in Malaysia and the United Kingdom

Download (106.7 kB)
journal contribution
posted on 2023-08-30, 17:18 authored by Jennifer Todd, Jane E. Aspell, David Barron, Evelyn K. L. Toh, Hanoor S. Zahari, Nor A. Mohd. Khatib, Ryan Laughton, Viren Swami
Gastric interoception refers to the processing of sensory stimuli originating in the gut. Previous research has found that gastric interoception (measured using a water load task) is associated with drive for thinness in young Western women. However, associations with broader facets of body image and in diverse national groups have not been previously investigated. To address these issues, we asked samples of adults in the United Kingdom (UK; N = 91, women n = 54) and Malaysia (N = 100, women n = 50) to complete a 2-stage water load task (WLT) and measures of positive body image (i.e., body appreciation, functionality appreciation). The results indicated that a greater change in the intensity of self-reported WLT-related sensations was associated with significantly higher body appreciation and functionality appreciation after accounting for gender identity, body mass index, and national group. Behavioural performance on the WLT was significantly associated with body appreciation and functionality appreciation for the Malaysian sample, but not the UK adults, after accounting for gender identity and body mass index. These findings extend previous research by demonstrating that there are significant associations between facets of gastric interoception and previously unexplored facets of body image in both Western and non-Western settings.

History

Refereed

  • Yes

Volume

34

Page range

101-111

Publication title

Body Image

ISSN

1873-6807

Publisher

Elsevier

File version

  • Accepted version

Language

  • eng

Legacy posted date

2020-05-29

Legacy creation date

2020-05-29

Legacy Faculty/School/Department

Faculty of Science & Engineering

Usage metrics

    ARU Outputs

    Categories

    No categories selected

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC