Impact of negative cognitions about body image on inflammatory status in relation to health

Abstract

Objective: Evidence suggests that body dissatisfaction may relate to biological processes and that negative cognitions can influence physical health through the complex pathways linking psychological and biological factors.

Design: The present study investigates the relationships between body image satisfaction, inflammation (cytokine levels), aerobic fitness level and obesity in 96 middle-aged men and women (48 normal and 48 overweight). All participants underwent measurements of body satisfaction, body composition, serological measurements of inflammation and aerobic capabilities assessment.

Results: Body image dissatisfaction uniquely predicted inflammation biomarkers, C-reactive protein and tumour necrosis factor-α, even when controlled for obesity indicators. Thus, body image dissatisfaction is strongly linked to inflammation processes and may promote the increase in cytokines, representing a relative metabolic risk, independent of most traditional risk factors, such as gender, body mass index and intra-abdominal (waist to hip ratio) adiposity.

Conclusion: Results highlight the fact that person’s negative cognitions need to be considered in psychologically based interventions and strategies in treatment of obesity, including strategies for health promotion. Results contribute to the knowledge base of the complex pathways in the association between psychological factors and physical illness and some important attempts were made to explain the psychological pathways linking cognitions with inflammation.

Keywords:

• body image dissatisfaction
• obesity
• inflammation
• C-reactive protein
• tumor necrosis factor-α
• aerobic fitness level

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all the subjects for volunteering to participate in this study and the nurses of the Faculty of Health Sciences for taking blood samples. The authors would also like to thank Vanja Pahor from the General Hospital Izola and colleagues from the Faculty of Health Sciences, especially Tamara Štemberger Kolnik for her help in measuring the FI. The authors sincerely thank Nadja Plazar and Maja Čemažar for supporting this study.