Michael P Levine

• PhD
• Kenyon College

This review of 16 prevention-related publications in Eating Disorders during 2022 is framed by three models: (1) Mental Health Intervention Spectrum: health promotion → types of prevention → case identification/referral → treatment; (2) the prevention cycle: rationale and theory, shaped by critical reviews → clarifying risk and protective factors →...

In this chapter, we analyze the implicit and explicit ways that power figures in feminist research and theory on bodyweight and appearance. In the process, we consider how power is made visible or becomes occluded in propositions about what we know. In order to do this, we begin first with an exploration of theorizations of power in feminism. We th...

Objective Estimate the prevalence, and associated risk factors, of high school students who are considered at risk for an eating disorder based on screening measures. Methods An electronic search of nine databases was completed from their inception until 1st September 2022. A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted, and confounder (moderator) a...

prevalence, and associated risk factors, of high school students who are considered at risk for an eating disorder based on screening measures. Methods: An electronic search of nine databases was completed from their inception until 1st September 2022. A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted, and confounder (moderator) analyses and meta-regre...

This review of 17 prevention-related publications in Eating Disorders during 2022 is framed by three models: (1) Mental Health Intervention Spectrum: health promotion ➔ types of prevention ➔ case identification/referral ➔ treatment; (2) the prevention cycle: rationale and theory, shaped by critical reviews ➔ clarifying risk and protective factors ➔...

Objective: To close the chasm between theory about families containing a parent with an eating disorders (EDs) history and lack of selective or indicated prevention programming for such families with an older child or adolescent who is, genetically, at high risk. Method: A search of four major databases for January 2000 through September 2022 yi...

Purpose: The purpose of this review was to estimate the prevalence of screen-based disordered eating (SBDE) and several potential risk factors in university undergraduate students around the world. Methods: An electronic search of nine data bases was conducted from the inception of the databases until 1st October 2021. Disordered eating was define...

Despite the long history of feminist research in the field and the clear relevance of questions of gender to this sphere, many continue to question the relevance of feminism for understanding and treating eating disorders in 2022. In this set of two papers, we explore some of the tensions, omissions and misconceptions which surround feminist approa...

Plain English summary There continue to be debates about what role, if any, feminism has to play in eating disorders research, treatment, and advocacy. In these debates, we sometimes miss the chance to engage in productive dialogue about what the past and present of feminist eating disorders research, treatment, and prevention can offer—and where i...

This review of 19 prevention-related publications in Eating Disorders during 2021 is framed by four models: (1) Mental Health Intervention Spectrum: health promotion → types of prevention → case identification/referral → treatment; (2) the prevention cycle: rationale and theory, shaped by critical reviews → clarifying risk and protective factors →...

Fifteen prevention-related publications in Eating Disorders during 2020 are reviewed. Two models frame this analysis: (1) the Mental Health Intervention Spectrum: health promotion → types of prevention → case identification and referral → treatment; and (2) parsing phases of prevention into a cycle: rationale, theory, and methodology, shaped by cri...

This article reviews 11 prevention-related publications in Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment & Prevention during 2019. Two models from the 2018 review continue to frame this analysis: (1) the Mental Health Intervention Spectrum from health promotion → types of prevention → case identification and referral → treatment; and (2) parsing phase...

Purpose Age, gender and body mass index (BMI) are commonly described risk factors for the development of eating disorders. However, the magnitude of these factors (individually and together) is still not well-defined in some populations. Methods A systematic search was performed for studies that reported the prevalence of eating disorder risk amon...

Embodiment is defined as a state in which one experiences one's physical body as an essential aspect of one's lived experiences, a potential protective factor against body image and eating disturbance. The Physical Activity Body Experiences Questionnaire (PABEQ) was rationally derived as a measure of embodiment based on focus groups, literature rev...

This article reviews the 10 prevention-related publications in Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment & Prevention during 2018. Two models frame this analysis. This first is the Mental Health Intervention Spectrum from health promotion → types of prevention → case identification and referral → treatment (recovery). The second parses the phases...

The definition of universal prevention is important for theoretical, research, and policy-related reasons. The present article provides an etymological and historical look at the concept of universal prevention, in and of itself and in terms of its position on the mental health intervention spectrum involving mental health promotion, selective prev...

An “eating disorder” is a set of interrelated and very unhealthy (1) eating behaviors; (2) weight management practices; (3) attitudes about food, weight, and body shape; (4) struggles with self-concept and self-control; and (5) disruptions in the neuroanatomical processes underlying hunger, satiety, and emotions. Obesity in adolescents is a risk fa...

This chapter reviews the conceptual and empirical foundations for efforts to prevent, simultaneously, substance misuse and eating disordered behavior in adolescents. The focus is universal and selective prevention in middle and high schools, although Stice's dissonance-based form of indicated prevention is also considered, particularly its potentia...

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and eating disorders (EDs) are comorbid disorders with a number of common risk factors, including negative emotionality, negative body image, impulsivity, and emotional dysregulation. Existing work in the ED field draws upon the nonspecific vulnerability-stressor model and critical social perspectives to engage adole...

This article explores the clash between the biopsychiatric paradigm and the sociocultural paradigm. After considering their essential assumptions, it is argued that the biopsychiatric paradigm has a number of significant problems, including a misunderstanding and misrepresentation of the sociocultural perspective it purports to have minimised or ci...

Background: Older meta-analyses of the effects of the media's portrayal of the ideal physique have found small effects revealing that exposure to the ideal physique increases body image concerns. These meta-analyses also included correlational, quasi-experimental, and experimental studies, with limited examination of moderators and other relevant...

Data from different cultures and American ethnic groups help to effectively address eating problems and disorders in these groups and to elucidate sociocultural etiological factors. Research indicates that (1) eating disorders exist internationally and in all American ethnic groups; (2) indicators of disordered eating and eating disorders are simil...

This article reviews research on the effects of television and magazines on body image and on disordered eating attitudes and behaviors in females. Evidence from different types of studies in the fields of eating disorders, media psychology, health psychology, and mass communication indicates that mass media are an extremely important source of inf...

This chapter summarizes the argument for mass media as a causal risk factor for eating disorder (ED) and model of treatment, prevention, and advocacy. Mass media are a major part of the lives of children, adolescents, and adults in many countries around the world.The content of mass media provides multiple, overlapping, and all too often, unhealthy...

This article reviews research pertaining to mass media as a causal risk factor for negative body image and disordered eating in females. The specific purpose is to clarify the impact of mass media by applying seven criteria that extend those of Kraemer et al. (1997) and Stice (2002). Although media effects clearly meet a majority of the criteria, t...

It is important for adults who work with youth to know how to address the issues of eating disorders and steroid use. This article provides signs and symptoms for both, and then gives practical suggestions for talking with youth about a potential problem. It ends with prevention strategies for adults who work with youth. (Contains 3 tables.)

Objective of review. The purpose of this review is to summarize research published since 2004 concerning the relationship between eating problems and disorders, on the one hand, and trauma, on the other. The focus is on issues concerning the relationship between child sexual abuse (CSA) and other forms of early and adulthood trauma to eating proble...

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of V.I.K. (Very Important Kids), a school-based, multi-component intervention designed to prevent teasing and unhealthy weight-control behaviors among fourth through sixth grade students. The effectiveness of the V.I.K. intervention was evaluated using a pre-post quasi-expe...

Eating disorder prevention is a young field that has made significant strides in the past two decades. It is timely to take a look back at what we have learned during this period in order to begin to address the question, "What next?" This paper considers several key issues based upon a review of the literature and the authors' perspectives. Topics...

This is the first authored volume to offer a detailed, integrated analysis of the field of eating problems and disorders with theory, research, and practical experience from community and developmental psychology, public health, psychiatry, and dietetics. The book highlights connections between the prevention of eating problems and disorders and th...

This chapter focuses on the eating disorders that draw the attention of most clinicians and researchers: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and eating disorders not otherwise specified. For information about other, less well-known eating problems in adolescents, and about the medical and nutritional effects of eating disorders in adolescents, see L...

This article reviews theory and research pertaining to prevention of negative body image and eating disorders. Research derived from the social cognitive model (SCM) and non-specific vulnerability-stressor (NSVS) model indicates that sustained prevention effects for attitudes and behaviors are possible, but not easy to achieve or explain. These lim...

This chapter extends our reviews of theory and research concerning media influences on weight and body shape in girls and women. There is no doubt that mass media are important sources of what we think about, how we evaluate what we think about, what we overlook and ignore, and how we interact with important people in our lives. There is also no do...

Eating disorders are part of a spectrum of disordered eating behavior (DEB). This spectrum encompasses varying combinations and degrees of negative body image, binge-eating, and unhealthy forms of weight management such as restrictive dieting, self-induced vomiting after eating, and abuse of laxatives, diuretics, diet pills, and exercise as well as...

This entry focuses on eating disorders in adults, and what we know about preventing these conditions.

The effect of experimental manipulations of the thin beauty ideal, as portrayed in the mass media, on female body image was evaluated using meta-analysis. Data from 25 studies (43 effect sizes) were used to examine the main effect of mass media images of the slender ideal, as well as the moderating effects of pre-existing body image problems, the a...

As a test of a prevention effect, data were collected two years after boys and girls ages 9-11 completed ten one-hour lessons designed to improve nutrition and exercise patterns, enhance body esteem, and discourage unhealthy weight management. Body esteem, use of weight loss techniques, SATAQ scores, weight concerns, and program-related knowledge w...

This commentary offers a critical evaluation of the Body Logic Program for the prevention of eating disorders (Varnado-Sullivan et al., 2001). This ambitious project was designed to affect middle-school students in general (universal prevention), as well as high-risk students and their parents (selective prevention). The evaluation includes a consi...

To assess the psychometric validity of versions of the Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire (SATAQ) designed for use with middle school girls and boys. As part of a larger study, the SATAQ was administered to 505 middle school children. To assess concurrent validity, scales concerning the use of Weight Control and Muscle Buildin...

This study examined the relative contributions of mother's and father's direct comments about child's weight and modeling of weight concerns through their own behavior on child's body esteem, weight-related concerns, and weight loss attempts. Parents, 131 mothers and 89 fathers, of fourth and fifth grade boys and girls completed a brief survey whic...

Researchers have recently called for the development of primary prevention of eating disorders programs aimed at elementary school students. The present study reports on the development of a curriculum for fifth graders designed to encourage healthy eating, exercise, and body image while discouraging calorie-restrictive dieting, exercising for weig...

This paper describes our efforts to promote “media literacy” and media resistance skills in boys and girls ages 9-11 who were participating in a controlled evaluation of a 10-lesson prevention program designed to improve nutrition and exercise behavior and to promote self-acceptance and body esteem. Our approach to a critical evaluation of mass med...