Non-surgical aesthetic procedures and eating behavior: A review of motivational and dietary changes associated with body image
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32870/jbf.v5i10.112Keywords:
eating behavior, non-surgical aesthetic procedures, body image, body dysmorphic disorder, intuitive eatingAbstract
Non-surgical aesthetic procedures have expanded steadily and raise important questions about their links to eating behavior. This narrative review synthesizes evidence from PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (2014–2025) to examine how post-procedure body-image changes relate to dietary motivation, eating styles, and risk of eating psychopathology. Direct empirical data on dietary modifications after treatment are limited, partly because body-contouring trials neutralize diet to isolate device effects and facial studies prioritize patient-reported outcomes such as quality of life and body image. Nevertheless, converging findings indicate that body dissatisfaction and intensive social-media exposure are associated with greater eating dysregulation, whereas body-image flexibility and intuitive eating relate to better well-being and fewer risky behaviors. We propose two plausible trajectories after treatment: sustainable nutritional adjustments among individuals who consolidate a more positive body image, and restrictive or compensatory patterns among those with persistent body dissatisfaction or dysmorphic traits. Clinically, brief validated screening for eating disorders and body dysmorphic disorder, together with peri-procedural nutritional assessment and counseling, is advisable. Research gaps and an agenda are outlined, prioritizing pre–post cohorts with follow-up, standardized dietary outcomes, and measurement of sociocultural context to estimate the magnitude and direction of change more precisely.
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