Greater gastric interoception is associated with more positive body image: Evidence from adults in Malaysia and the United Kingdom. (September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Todd, Jennifer; Aspell, Jane E.; Barron, David; Toh, Evelyn Kheng Lin; Zahari, Hanoor Syahirah; Mohd. Khatib, Nor Azzatunnisak; Laughton, Ryan; Swami, Viren
• Is Part Of: Body image. Volume 34(2020)
• Page Start: 101
• Page End: 111
• Publication Date: 2020-09
• Subjects: Interoception -- Gastric interoception -- Positive body image -- Cross-national -- Body appreciation -- Functionality appreciation; Body image -- Periodicals; Body image -- Research -- Periodicals; Body Image -- Periodicals; 306.4613
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2020.05.011
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1740-1445

Abstract

Highlights: Self-reported gastric interoception is associated with positive body image (PBI). This association is robust across Western and non-Western samples. Behavioural gastric interoception is associated with PBI in Malaysian adults. Behavioural gastric interoception is not associated with PBI in adults from the UK. Abstract: Gastric interoception refers to the processing of sensory stimuli originating in the gut. Previous research has found that gastric interoception (measured using a water load task) is associated with drive for thinness in young Western women. However, associations with broader facets of body image and in diverse national groups have not been previously investigated. To address these issues, we asked samples of adults in the United Kingdom (UK; N = 91, women n = 54) and Malaysia ( N = 100, women n = 50) to complete a 2-stage water load task (WLT) and measures of positive body image (i.e., body appreciation, functionality appreciation). The results indicated that a greater change in the intensity of self-reported WLT-related sensations was associated with significantly higher body appreciation and functionality appreciation after accounting for gender identity, body mass index, and national group. Behavioural performance on the WLT was significantly associated with body appreciation and functionality appreciation for the Malaysian sample, but not the UK adults, after accounting for gender identity and body mass index. These findings extend previous research by demonstrating that there are significant associations between facets of gastric interoception and previously unexplored facets of body image in both Western and non-Western settings.