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Article
Sex at every size: A content analysis of weight inclusivity in sexual functioning research
Body image
  • Nathan Quinn, University of North Florida
  • Robert J Zeglin, University of North Florida, USA. Electronic address: r.zeglin@unf.edu.
  • Courtney Boggs, University of North Florida
  • Hannah Glusenkamp, University of North Florida
  • Melinda Rule, University of North Florida
  • Kristen Hicks-Roof, University of North Florida
  • Kassie R Terrell, University of North Florida
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-1-2022
Subject Area
Humans; Body Image (psychology); Orgasm
Abstract

Sexual functioning research has been slow to address sizeism within its volumes. Much of the sexual health science has adopted a weight normative model rather than a weight inclusive model. The purpose of this study was to, through systematic literature review, describe the sexual functioning research landscape with respect to weight inclusivity. The review included three databases (Google Scholar, Medline and Ebsco) between 2010 and 2020. Each article was double coded for weight inclusivity and sexual functioning. Sixty-seven articles met the criteria and were included in analysis. The articles, overall, only endorsed weight inclusive tenets 16 % of the time. Articles were most weight inclusive when discussing sexual satisfaction (22.5 %). Meanwhile, when discussing sexual arousal, the articles were the least weight inclusive (16.7 %). These findings suggest there is needs to be greater education and intention for sex educators, therapists, and clinicians, to explore and enhance body positivity and sexual health.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.1016/j.bodyim.2022.10.010
PubMed ID
36345080
E-ISSN
1873-6807
Language
eng
Citation Information
Nathan Quinn, Robert J Zeglin, Courtney Boggs, Hannah Glusenkamp, et al.. "Sex at every size: A content analysis of weight inclusivity in sexual functioning research" Body image Vol. 43 (2022) p. 420 - 428
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/kassie-terrell/5/