Body Image, Disordered Eating, and Lifestyle Interplay in Youth: Psychopathological Mechanisms, Gender Differences, and Translational Interventions

Body image and lifestyle behaviors represent central factors shaping the mental and physical well-being of young individuals. Recent research underscores that adolescence and young adulthood are critical periods in which disordered eating, body dissatisfaction, poor sleep, and low physical activity often intersect, contributing to elevated emotional distress and maladaptive health patterns. Despite increasing attention on these interconnected domains, the psychopathological mechanisms driving these relationships remain incompletely understood. Cognitive-emotional processes such as rumination, depressive symptoms, and negative self-evaluation serve as potential transdiagnostic risk pathways, yet their gender-specific variations and cultural expressions require further elaboration. Recent findings have highlighted how sociocultural pressures, digital media exposure, and peer comparisons contribute to body distortion and unhealthy behaviors, but cross-cultural and longitudinal evidence—especially in Asian and underrepresented populations—remains scarce. Addressing these gaps is crucial to developing holistic models and interventions that effectively target both psychological and lifestyle dimensions of youth health.This Research Topic aims to elucidate the psychological and behavioral mechanisms that underlie the interplay between body image, disordered eating, and lifestyle factors in adolescents and young adults. Specifically, it seeks to identify transdiagnostic processes linking cognition, affect regulation, and social interactions to mental health outcomes. The goal is also to delineate gender-specific and culture-dependent pathways that shape vulnerability and resilience, and to promote translational interventions integrating behavioral strategies, psychoeducation, and lifestyle modification. By combining mechanistic and applied perspectives, the Research Topic aspires to inform prevention, early detection, and treatment models that reduce psychopathological risks and promote well-being among youth.To gather further insights into the complex relationship between lifestyle and psychopathology in young populations, this Research Topic welcomes contributions within interdisciplinary and cross-cultural boundaries. We invite articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:1. Cognitive, affective, and social mediators or moderators between body image and disordered eating2. Bidirectional links between sleep, physical activity, eating pathology, and mood symptoms3. Gender disparities in body talk, muscle- and fat-oriented eating, and compensatory behaviors4. Evidence-based and culturally sensitive lifestyle interventions for prevention and early support5. Cross-sectional, longitudinal, and experimental studies elucidating mechanisms of change6. Development and validation of assessment tools and epidemiological surveys in community and student samples Topic editors: Ming Hao, Shanlin Ke, Chunmei Wu Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/80925/body-image-disordered-eating-and-lifestyle-interplay-in-youth-psychopathological-mechanisms-gender-differences-and-translational-interventions