Body Image. 2025 Oct 16;55:101983. doi: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101983. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Eating disorder psychopathology is common among Chinese adolescents, but whether and how it is associated with family fat talk is unknown. The present study tested a model linking family fat talk to eating disorder psychopathology through the indirect effects of body dissatisfaction and negative affect. The moderating role of gender in this model was also examined. Questionnaires were completed by 1,049 Chinese middle and high school students (574 girls; mean age = 15.12 years ± 1.22 years). Frequency of family fat talk was positively and strongly associated with eating disorder psychopathology. As predicted, body dissatisfaction and negative affect mediated this association. The entire path model explained nearly 55 % of the variance. The path from family fat talk → body dissatisfaction → eating disorder psychopathology was significantly stronger for girls than boys. Findings of the present study highlight the importance of addressing family fat talk, body dissatisfaction, and emotion regulation ability in eating disorder prevention and interventions.
PMID:41106008 | DOI:10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101983
