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This study aims to assess the relationship between anxiety with body concern, academic variables and food desire in undergraduate Nutrition students.

This was a cross-sectional study conducted with 173 students from the undergraduate course of Nutrition in the Midwest region of Brazil. Socioeconomic, academic and behavioral data (Beck Anxiety Inventory, Body Shape Questionnaire and Food Desires Questionnaire) were collected.

One-third of the students had moderate or severe anxiety symptoms. There were no differences between socioeconomic characteristics in terms of the intensity of anxiety symptoms. Students with minimal symptoms of anxiety had a higher average grade in the course, when compared to those with mild or moderate symptoms and those with severe symptoms (p = 0.001). It was observed that 46.2% had some concerns about their bodies and 11% had severe body concerns. The average grade was associated with anxiety so that 1 point in the global grade is associated to 54% (p < 0,001) less chance of having moderate; severe anxiety. In conclusion, average grade was associated with anxiety in undergraduate Nutrition students.

Average grade was a protection factor for anxiety in undergraduate Nutrition students.

Current western society promotes a strong desirability to be thin. The majority of young females are unhappy with their body shape and wish to be thinner. This can lead to many health problems such as addictive exercising, depression and disordered eating. It is also established that certain groups tend to be more prone to body image dissatisfaction (BID) than others. The purpose of this paper is to determine if there was a high prevalence of BID and/or disordered eating among students studying a food‐related degree course.

Students were recruited via e‐mail. Subjects were weighed, measured and BMI calculated. A software package Anamorphic Micro was used to measure BID and a validated questionnaire “BITE” assessed for disordered eating.

Nutrition students had a low mean BMI of 21.8 kg/m². Despite this, the majority (90 per cent) were dissatisfied with their body; with 83 per cent wishing to be thinner and 60 per cent overestimating their body size. The BITE questionnaire revealed that 30 per cent scored for disordered eating and 10 per cent scored for Bulimia Nervosa.

This paper confirms that students studying food‐related degree courses are at greater risk of developing eating disorders.

The main purpose of this study is to investigate the mediating role of fashion clothing involvement in the relationship between body appreciation and maladaptive consumption, namely fashion-oriented impulse and compulsive buying. The second purpose of this study is to investigate if this mediation varies based on gender.

A quantitative approach was adopted in this study, and data were collected via Amazon Mechanical Turk from 255 consumers located in the U.S. aged 18 and above. The collected data were analyzed using the least partial square and multi-group analysis of the structural equation model.

The results revealed that the relationship between body appreciation and maladaptive consumption is established through fashion clothing involvement. Results also showed that the mediating role of fashion clothing involvement in this relationship does not significantly differ across gender.

This study reports the fully mediating role of fashion clothing involvement in the relationship between body appreciation and maladaptive consumption, highlighting the importance of studying positive body image in the context of fashion and consumption. While previous research findings indicate the negative consequences of negative body image, this research reveals that positive body image can also lead to negative outcomes through possible mediators. Furthermore, this study finds fashion clothing involvement does not differ in mediating the relationship between body appreciation and maladaptive consumption behavior based on gender.

The purpose of this paper was to assess whether there were differences in body image, physical activity and lifestyle attitudes between single and married Saudi women using gymnasia.

In June 2011, 80 women attending three different gymnasia in Hail, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were recruited for this study. Anthropometric measurements of weight and height were performed. Socio‐demographic characteristics – activity history; obesity‐related knowledge; and behavior data – were obtained by self‐administered questionnaire.

The prevalence of overweight and obesity in the study group was 22.5 percent and 70 percent, respectively. Estimated weight loss over the last six months was similar for both groups. All subjects recognized the “thin”, “normal weight” and “fat” silhouettes. The majority of the single (76 percent) and married women (90 percent) subjects identified their own body shape as being overweight, but chose the “normal weight” figures as the shape they wanted to be. Reported weekly physical activity levels were low and similar between groups. No significant differences (P>0.05) were found in body image concerns or lifestyle between the two groups.

This paper reveals that the main motive for most of the subjects to use gymnasia was to reduce their weight and improve body image because they were either overweight or obese. There is an urgent need to spread awareness about obesity in Saudi Arabia. More educational programs about healthy weight should be implemented.

This study investigates the influence of augmented reality (AR) on consumer behavior and decision-making in the context of retail. By developing a conceptual framework that highlights AR’s distinct characteristics and its contribution to the theme of human-centricity and resilience, this research explores the cognitive and affective responses triggered by AR experiences and their subsequent impact on consumer choices.

The study employs a comprehensive literature review approach, delving into the intricate relationships between AR, consumer behavior and decision-making. Through the exploration of factors such as interactivity, vividness, body image perception, narcissism, information processing preference, privacy concerns and situational surroundings, the study develops a nuanced understanding of the mechanisms underlying AR’s effects.

The study aligns with the contemporary focus on human-centeredness and resilience in the digital age. It reveals that interactive and vivid AR experiences significantly enhance consumer enjoyment and influence decision-making processes. Furthermore, the study uncovers how individual traits and contextual factors shape consumer responses to AR, shedding light on the broader landscape of consumer behavior.

While acknowledging limitations in generalizability and potential publication bias, this study offers a fresh perspective by accounting for moderating effects and situational contexts. Future research directions might involve longitudinal studies to capture evolving trends in the dynamic realm of AR in retail.

Businesses and marketers have the opportunity to utilize the knowledge acquired from this study to effectively integrate AR technologies into their customer engagement strategies, thereby promoting a customer-centric approach in their operations. The results emphasize the utmost importance of creating AR experiences that align with user preferences and provide meaningful interaction, ultimately leading to the development of sustainable consumer decisions in the digital age.

Distinct from existing literature, this study contributes to the theme of human-centricity and resilience by examining the influence of AR on consumer behavior. This contribution enriches discussions on sustainable consumer choices in the digital era. Employing a comprehensive literature review approach, we explore key factors including interactivity, vividness, body image perception, narcissism, information processing preference, privacy concerns and situational surroundings. This approach deepens our understanding of AR’s influence on consumer behavior, presenting a valuable addition to the field.

Influencers in physical activity and sports have gained significant prominence in promoting health and well-being via digital social networks. This research investigates the impact of athlete influencers on sports perceptions, with a focus on korfball. Using korfball as a representative sport minimizes biases, allowing a nuanced exploration of athlete-generated content’s direct influence on viewer attitudes.

A questionnaire survey with 319 respondents explores variables like athlete attitude, attractive appearance, social media profile attitude, emotional engagement toward korfball, korfball perception, korfball interest and general sports attitude. Structural equation modeling analysis examines relationships among these variables.

The study delves into the complex interplay among athlete attitude, social media attitude and emotional engagement toward sports, emphasizing the pivotal role of authenticity in fostering deeper connections. Contrary to expectations, athlete attractiveness did not significantly influence viewer priorities, signaling a notable shift towards valuing authenticity and performance. Furthermore, the research explores how general sports attitudes moderate relationships between sports perceptions and interest, offering critical insights for sports sociology and marketing.

This study innovates by focusing on korfball, emphasizing authenticity over attractiveness and providing insights into the evolving dynamics of sports marketing and consumer behavior in the digital age. This research evidences the profound impact of the digital age on sports engagement, laying a foundation for future studies and practical applications in sports sociology, marketing and consumer behavior.

Presents results of focus group discussions held with 300 nine‐to‐11‐year old UK children. Questions were asked about whether it matters if someone is fat or thin; whether a fat child should take any action; what problems they might have; and the relationship between fatness, thinness and health. Considerable complexity emerged; children divided fat children into those for whom it was natural and those for whom it was self‐inflicted. They showed a great deal of sympathy for “naturally” fat children. However, they also felt that fat children would be bullied. Girls seemed less able than boys to resist the pressures to be thin, but also showed considerable ability to distance themselves from media images of thin women. Although children had learned the orthodoxy surrounding health, fat and overweight, they did not believe that “thin is good, fat is bad” and did not tend to link weight control with exercise.

This study aims to probe customers’ expectations and explore discrepancies across various domestic kids’ ready to wear (RTW) apparel brands for measurements, fit, shape and labelling/nomenclature.

Data were collected through qualitative and quantitative methods. Interviews were held with the consumers to understand their perceptions and expectations with the kids’ wear brands for measurements, fit and labelling. The approach had a twofolded purpose of addressing the consumers’ dissatisfaction and the apparel manufacturer’s perspective.

The results indicated that 87% of consumers gave importance to well-fitted apparel. The apparel brands considered for the study showed inconsistency and discrepancies in the measurements, leading to consumer dissatisfaction and frustrations.

The findings of the study may be useful for fashion academia, kids RTW apparel manufacturers and designers who can relate to the role of standard measurements and the varying body shapes in RTW apparel. They can work closer to develop innovative practices focusing on the fit challenges in kids RTW apparel.

The implication of the lack of any standard measurement for Indian kids for apparel is well-established in the study.

Obesity is a chronic disease that is conjoined with increased mortality. Parallel to rising obesity rates, herbal dietary interventions to lose weight are also increasing. The purpose of this study is to assess and evaluate the use of herbal dietary interventions for weight loss among regularly exercising women.

A total of 545 regularly exercising women (aged 19–64 years) were recruited from several local sports centers. A questionnaire form to evaluate demographic characteristics, nutritional habits and herbal dietary intervention habits was administered by a trained dietitian. Anthropometric measurements including weight, height, fat mass, total body water and fat free mass were measured using a bioelectrical impedance analysis device.

A total of 244 participants (44.8%) used herbal dietary interventions for weight loss within the last year. The most commonly used herbal dietary interventions were green tea (59.4%), lemon juice (27%), herbal tea mix (20.9%) and cinnamon powder (17.6%), respectively. Of the 244 women who used herbal dietary interventions for weight loss, 42.2% claimed that by using these products they experienced weight loss. Herbal dietary interventions were significantly higher among women with obesity (61.9%) than women with a healthy weight (37.5%). The use of herbal supplements increased among women who consider themselves as being overweight (p < 0.001). Furthermore, herbal dietary interventions decreased with more frequent attempts for a weight-loss diet (p < 0.001).

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study represents a first attempt at assessing the use of herbal dietary supplements for weight loss among regularly exercising Turkish women. With the increase of body mass index and body perception being as overweight, herbal dietary interventions were also increased. In particular, women with obesity (61.9%) used more herbal dietary interventions than women with healthy weight (37.5%). Moreover, women with an overweight body perception used more herbal supplements than those who thought they had a healthy body weight.

The objective of this study was to identify factors associated with misperceptions of body shape for 1,681 first‐year University students from Germany and Lithuania. The perception of body shape was rated on a five‐point scale. Multifactorial logistic regression showed that German students were more likely to perceive themselves as being fatter than their BMI suggested compared with their Lithuanian peers. The results indicated that misperception of body shape was a substantial problem for these university students, particularly those from Germany.