Search for information on food and nutrition and its intersections with eating behavior and body image

Abstract

This quantitative study associated the search for information about food and nutrition with body image and eating behavior in men and women. An online survey was conducted from December 2021 to March 2022, with 518 adults participating via social media and email invites. The survey included demographic questions, information-seeking behavior, beauty ideals, media influence, body satisfaction, investment in appearance, and disordered eating. Two-way ANOVAs and Path analysis were used. Most participants were women, white, heterosexual, and single, with an average age of 31 years and body mass index (BMI) of 25.9 kg/m². Most participants looked up information about food and nutrition (81.7%; n = 423) and used Google® as their primary source (45.2%; n = 191). Path analysis revealed that searching for information is positively associated with satisfaction with appearance, BMI, media pressure, and time spent on social networks. Conversely, there is a negative relationship between satisfaction with appearance and seeking information and between investment in appearance and searching for such information.