Associations between sociocultural pressures to be thin, body distress, and eating disorder symptomatology among Chilean adolescent girls

This study explored the relationships between perceived sociocultural pressure to fulfill the thin beauty ideal, body distress, and the presence of eating disorder symptoms. Participants were 437 Chilean adolescent girls from Arica, northern Chile, aged 13–18. Results showed significant associations between perceived pressure from social agents to be thin and the presence of disrupted eating attitudes and behavior. The perceived influence of advertising, verbal messages and social situations related to eating and dieting emerged as the strongest predictors of eating disorders symptoms. Influence of advertising was also the strongest predictor of body image distress. Age differences emerged in perceived sociocultural pressure to be thin, with older participants reporting higher sociocultural pressure to fulfill the slender beauty ideal. This paper provides information about body distress and associated disturbances, a phenomenon which has seldom been studied in non-Western countries, but which has important health implications.

Research highlights▶ We explore body distress and ED symptoms in a sample of Chilean adolescent girls. ▶ Perceived social pressures to be thin is associated with body distress and ED symptoms. ▶ Influence of advertising is the strongest predictor of body distress. ▶ Body distress has often been neglected in non-Western countries. ▶ More research on Latin American women is needed.