Body Image and Disordered Eating: Psychosocial, Cultural, Cognitive and Clinical Perspectives

Dear Colleagues,

Body image concerns are a central factor in the development and persistence of eating disorders, with body image disturbance being one of the most pervasive symptoms across diagnostic categories. This Special Issue invites empirical and theoretical contributions examining the complex interplay between body image and disordered eating across diverse populations and cultural contexts.

Submissions may address clinically recognized eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, as well as emerging patterns of disordered eating not yet formally classified in diagnostic manuals, including orthorexia nervosa. Research exploring cognitive, sociocultural, and gender-based influences on body image, such as social media exposure, beauty standards, and stigma, will be especially relevant.

Manuscripts focusing on the impact of body acceptance movements, including body positivity and body neutrality, are encouraged, particularly in relation to shifting societal discourse and individual psychological outcomes. Suitable methodologies include longitudinal, experimental, cross-cultural, and qualitative approaches, as well as systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

This Special Issue aims to advance our understanding of how body image and eating behaviors intersect with identity, culture, and mental health and to identify meaningful pathways for prevention, intervention, and public health strategies.

Dr. Panagiota Tragantzopoulou
Dr. Vaitsa Giannouli
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Behavioral Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.