Body Image

Body Image is an international, peer-reviewed journal that publishes high-quality, scientific articles on body image and human physical appearance. Body image represents a person's "inside view" of their body-that is, their feelings, perceptions, thoughts, and beliefs about their body that impact how they behave toward it (Cash, 2004). While physical appearance is an important aspect of body image, it is not the only aspect, as embodiment (how a person uses their body to engage with the world) and focusing on (and appreciating) body functionality are additional aspects of body image. We invite contributions from a broad range of disciplines - psychological science, other social and behavioral sciences, and medical and health sciences. We have a weight-inclusive focus rather than a weight-normative or weight-centric focus (see https://www.hindawi.com/journals/jobe/2014/983495/ for an explanation).

Body Image publishes a variety of article types , including original research articles, brief research reports, theoretical and review papers (systematic reviews and meta-analyses), scale development and adaptation articles, replication studies, protocol articles, methodological innovations that could be used to advance body image research, unexpected/null results articles, and ideas worth researching. We encourage articles that center minoritized populations. Consistent with the Open Science initiative, we publish articles based on a strong theoretical rationale and scientific design rather than whether findings are statistically significant.

We also encourage review-based and empirical-based special issues, especially those that bridge subfields and disciplines.

Suitable topics for submission of manuscripts include (but are not limited to):

• The effects of body image and physical characteristics (e.g., body size, attractiveness, physical disfigurements or disorders) on psychological functioning, interpersonal processes, and quality of life;
• Body image and physical appearance in the full range of medical and allied health contexts;
• Body image in diverse cultural contexts;
• Development, validation, and adaptation (e.g., translation) of assessments of the body image construct;
• Factors that influence positive and negative body image development;
• Stigmatization and discrimination based on appearance and/or body function;
• Adaptive and maladaptive body image processes and their clinically relevant consequences on psychosocial functioning and quality of life;
• Relationship of body image to behavioral variables (e.g., exercise and other physical activity, eating and weight-control behaviors, grooming and appearance-modifying behaviors, and social behaviors);
• How body image may shape the ways we engage our bodies with the world (i.e., embodiment);
• Scientific evaluation of interventions to promote positive body image or to prevent or treat body image difficulties and disorders.

Impartiality statement regarding citations. We, the editorial team, strongly encourage authors to cite the highest quality work believed to be most relevant to their article; we are impartial to the use of citations from Body Image versus other journals. We review and accept articles based on their scientific rationale, merits, design, analysis, and interpretation rather than the source of their citations.

Note regarding string citations. We encourage authors to avoid excessive string citations, whereby multiple citations support a single statement, finding, or proposition, when such citations would be superfluous. In many cases, one citation will suffice, and this citation should be the best supporting reference for that statement, finding, or proposition. All important previous work can be included, and if a cite is important, there often will be additional text that accompanies it. Please note that we are okay with the overall number of references.

Of note, the recommendation to avoid string citations does not apply to:

1. Statements that include more than one finding. For example, "Over the past 10 years, researchers in a number of countries have begun to explore the relationship between positive body image and psychological well-being" needs multiple citations because authors are referring to researchers and countries (both plural. However, reference to all work that has explored this relationship is probably not needed.
As another example, "research shows that body dissatisfaction is correlated with disordered eating, anxiety, and depression" may include multiple citations, with different citations supporting different aspects of this statement.

2. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses whereby the citations are linked to relevant themes/data that are included in the analysis.

The presence of string citations alone is not a reason to reject an article. If submitted articles contain string citations, the editorial team will simply note this, and it will be up to the author to decide whether to retain or remove citations if asked to revise and resubmit their article.

Benefits to authors
We provide many author benefits, such as free PDFs, a liberal copyright policy, special discounts on Elsevier publications and much more. Articles are published online in ScienceDirect as soon as they are ready (typically within a month after acceptance); articles in ScienceDirect are fully citable through their DOI. Please click here for more information on our author services.

Please see our Guide for Authors for information on article submission. If you require any further information or help, please visit our Support Center.

The journal gives an annual award for the best doctoral dissertation in this field.