Exploring the relationships between self-objectification, rationales, and use of water as a strategy for appetite suppression

Abstract

Maladaptive eating behaviors and their relations to body dissatisfaction are widely studied, yet little is known about water consumption as an appetite suppressing strategy. This study investigated prevalence, frequency and quantity of water consumption, as well as its relationship to self-objectification and perceptions related to use. Online, 218 female undergraduates completed a survey consisting of the Water Consumption Questionnaire and the Self-Objectification Questionnaire. The results indicated that a third of participants reported using water as an appetite suppressant, although users and nonusers did not differ in water or daily fluid intake. Users had higher self-objectification scores, more motives for water consumption, more perceived social norms, held more false beliefs and perceived less risk than nonusers. These findings imply that water consumption is a common strategy for appetite suppression and its correlates are much like other maladaptive behaviors. A cognitive dissonance framework is suggested as a means for understanding its use.

Keywords:

• water consumption
• appetite suppressant
• self-objectification
• cognitive dissonance
• college students

Notes

This research was conducted by the second author for her undergraduate senior thesis under the supervision of the first author.