Thesis (BA Communication Arts) -- University of the Philippines Mindanao, June 2015

This study test the effect of Fat Talk as feature of verbal interpersonal interaction on young women's perceived body image (perceptions of body size and shape , and drive for thinness). Given the role of fat talk as a critical medium in perpetuating body discontentment, the body explores how it facilitates an attitude towards one?s body image among adolescent youths in the Philippines. Using the Pre-test-post-test Control Group Design, this experiment is conducted among 100 randomly selected female college students. Multiple Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA) reveals that fat talk affects the participants? perceived body shape and drive for thinness. However, perceive body size was not affected. Drive for thinness is predicted by body dissatisfaction, fear of fatness, and perceived body shape. Also, weight has a significant effect on the experimental subjects? perceived body size and perceived body shape. Lastly, the recall of the fat talk-related words and negative body appraisal is common among female subjects in the experimental condition. This body explores the negative effects of fat talk on self-perception of body shape of female college students which may contribute to theory-building in the field of interpersonal communication in the Philippine context especially communication and body image is concerned. The results of the current research suggest that positive interpersonal discourse about body image should be encouraged in order to promote higher levels of body satisfaction among female adolescents.