Differential perceptions of body image and body weight among adults of different socioeconomic status in a sub-urban population

Examining body appreciation in six countries: The impact of age and sociocultural pressure

Previous research on body appreciation across the lifespan has produced conflicting results that it increases with age, decreases with age, or is generally stable with an increase in women over 50-years-old. Furthermore, most of the research has been conducted in White, Western populations. Cross-cultural research suggests that both Chinese and African women experience similar sociocultural pressures as White Western women, and that appearance ideals are shifting to resemble a more Western ideal. We cross-sectionally and cross-culturally examined body appreciation across the lifespan, recruiting White Western women (UK, USA, Canada, and Australia), Black Nigerian women, and Chinese women. 1186 women aged 18-80 completed measures of body appreciation, internalisation of thin and athletic ideals, and perceived sociocultural pressure. Body appreciation did not vary with age in women from any country. Nigerian women reported the highest body appreciation, and Western women the lowest. Higher thin/athletic ideal internalisation, and higher perceived sociocultural pressure were significantly associated with lower body appreciation in all countries and age-groups. Overall, our findings indicate that although levels of body appreciation differ drastically between ethnicities and cultures, it is generally stable across age, and shows cross-culturally robust relationships between sociocultural internalisation and pressure.

Knowledge, perceptions and practices towards diabetes risk in sub-Saharan Africa: a mixed-methods scoping review

OBJECTIVE

To synthesise current evidence on knowledge, perceptions and practices towards type 2 diabetes risk in sub-Saharan Africa.

DESIGN

Mixed-methods scoping review, which included 101 studies (seventy-three quantitative, twenty qualitative and eight mixed methods) from seven electronic databases.

SETTING

Sub-Saharan Africa, 2000-2023.

PARTICIPANTS

Men and women without diabetes with mean ages ranging from 20 to 63 years.

RESULTS

The majority of participants in most studies knew the three main diabetes modifiable risk factors - excess weight, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity. However, most people with excess weight in almost all studies underestimated their weight. Further, the self-described ideal body weight was between midpoint of normal weight and the upper limits of overweight in most quantitative studies and was described as not too skinny but not too fat in qualitative studies. In the majority of studies, participants reported low engagement in weight control, high regular sugar intake, and low regular fruit and vegetable intake but moderate to high engagement in physical activity. Barriers to reducing diabetes risk were social (e.g. societal perceptions promoting weight gain) and environmental (e.g. limited affordability of healthy foods, high accessibility of Western diets and lack of physical activity facilities).

CONCLUSION

There is a need for multicomponent type 2 diabetes prevention interventions that increase knowledge of identifying diabetes risk (e.g. what constitutes excess weight) and create social and physical environments that support healthy lifestyles (e.g. societal perceptions that promote healthy living, increased availability and affordability of healthy foods and physical activity facilities).

Prevalence and trends of adult overweight and obesity in Nigeria - A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

The prevalence of obesity and its attendant complications are on the increase globally-sub-Saharan Africa inclusive. Obesity confers an increased risk of coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes, ischemic stroke, and some cancers. In Nigeria, several individual reports estimate an exponential increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity.

Aim

In this study, we aimed to estimate the current prevalence of overweight and obesity in Nigeria through a systematic review and meta-analyses.

Materials and Methods

A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted on the prevalence of obesity in Nigeria using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) format following searches on major search engines, performed in PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Africa Journals Online (AJOL), and the WHO African Index Medicus database. Studies on the subject area conducted from the year 2000 to 2018 were included. The forest plot was used to graphically present the results, while confidence interval at 95% was used to display the rates.

Results

A total of 77 articles on the prevalence of obesity involving 107, 781 individuals were used in the study. We found a pooled estimate of overweight of 26.0% (95% CI: 23.0-29.0) and that of obesity as 15.0% (95% CI: 13.0-16.0). There was an increasing trend in the prevalence of obesity in Nigeria from the study especially among urban dwellers.

Conclusion

The prevalence of obesity and overweight in Nigeria is high with a rising trend over the years. A Nigerian national health survey of non-communicable diseases especially the burden of overweight/obesity is recommended to through more light on the subject. There is need for concerted effort to tame the tide of rising obesity rates in Nigeria.

Validity of Body Image Pictogram to Determine Overweight/Obesity in Adults from Less Developed Populations: Results From Pars Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Despite the evidence for validity of body image pictogram (BIP) to discriminate overweight, obese, and normal individuals, there is little evidence on the probable effect of socio-demographic variables on its validity. To investigate the effects of socioeconomic status (SES), age, ethnicity, and educational level on the validity of BIP to discriminate normal weight, overweight, and obese people.

METHODS

We used the Pars Cohort Study (PCS) data. Stunkard's BIP score was used as test measure. Participants were classified as normal (body mass index [BMI]<25), overweight (BMI=25 to 29.9), and obese (BMI≥29.9) based on their BMI (kg/m2 ). Area under curve (AUC) and its 95% CI were estimated and compared. Optimal cutoff points and their sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratio were reported.

RESULTS

A total of 9232 participants with a female/male ratio of 1.03 were included. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 37.4% and 18.2%, respectively. Regardless of socio-demographic levels, the optimal cut-points to discriminate normal BMI from overweight, and overweight from obese participants were BIP score of four and five, respectively. Estimated AUC correlated with ethnicity (P<0.001) for both genders, and with SES for females (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Although BIP may be a valid measure to categorize the general adult population into normal, overweight and obese, its validity depends on SES and ethnicity. BIP may be available as a proxy measure for BMI categories in socio-demographically homogeneous populations but not in heterogeneous populations.

Body-Size Perception among First-Generation Chinese Migrants in Italy

Body-size perception is an important factor in motivating people to lose weight. Study aim was to explore the perception of body image among first-generation Chinese migrants living in Italy. A sample of 1258 Chinese first-generation immigrants and of 285 native Italians living in Prato, Italy, underwent blood pressure measurements, blood tests (with measurement of glucose, cholesterol, and triglycerides), and anthropometric measurements. Body-size perception was investigated with Pulvers’ figure rating scale using logistic or linear multivariable regression adjusted for age, gender, BMI, education and years spent in Italy. Chinese migrants had lower BMI and discrepancy score (preferred minus current body size) than Italians (p < 0.05 for both). After a logistic regression analysis, the discrepancy score remained lower in the Chinese than in the Italian cohort independently from BMI and other confounders (OR 0.68; 95%CI 0.50 to 0.92). In the Chinese cohort, female gender, BMI and years spent in Italy were positive determinants of discrepancy score (desire to be thinner), while age showed negative impact (p < 0.05 for all). Overweight is an important risk factor for diabetes, a very prevalent condition among first-generation Chinese migrants. The present study offers useful information and suggests the need for prevention programs specifically addressed to men.

Impact of perceptions of body size on obesity and weight management behaviour: a large representative population study in an African setting

BACKGROUND

Perception of body size is an important psycho-cultural cause of obesity with wide racial and ethnic variations.

METHOD

Cross-sectional household survey using multistage cluster-randomised sampling. Prevalence estimates were weighted. Logistic regressions were done to determine the impact of perception of large body size on obesity and the impact of perception of own body size on weight-management behaviour. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) were reported.

RESULTS

The survey involved 6628 adults from 2843 households. More than a quarter of the population is either obese or overweight. Nearly half, 44.07% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 42.48-45.66%) of the population perceive large body size as desirable. Positive perception of large body size significantly increases the odds of obesity by 1.5 (AOR: 1.45; 95% CI: 1.09-1.9). Some 42.03% (95% CI: 35.52-48.55%) obese persons misperceive their weight to be normal. Perceiving own body size as normal decreases the odds of weight-losing behaviour (AOR: 0.019; 95% CI: 0.014-0.026).

CONCLUSION

There is a high level of veneration of large body size in southeast Nigeria, and this has a significant impact on obesity burden. Perception of own body size has a significant impact on weight-management behaviour. Health-promotion policies aimed at changing the social desirability of large body size and misperception of body size are recommended.

Being Successful and Being Thin: The Effects of Thin-Ideal Social Media Images With High Socioeconomic Status on Women's Body Image and Eating Behaviour

Social media has outpaced traditional media to be the most popular sociocultural channel to transmit thin-ideal images, an established trigger for body image concerns and disordered eating in women. With an experimental design, the present research first demonstrated that exposure to thin images on social media threatened women's body image and increased their unhealthy food consumption (Study 1). However, given that thin images posted on social media are usually from wealthier people, the present research hypothesised that it may not be the body shape but the perceived socioeconomic status (SES) of images that indeed have negative effects on women. By manipulating the perceived SES of thin images and incorporating a baseline control group (Study 2), the present research provided causal evidence for the hypothesis by indicating that viewing thin images with parallel-perceived SES could significantly buffer undesirable thin-ideal effects on self-objectification and food intake. Therefore, future research needs to pay more attention to the role of SES in the thin media images literature.

Sociocultural pressure: a model of body dissatisfaction for young women

The aim of the study was to verify the influence of pressure from sociocultural agents on dissatisfaction with face and body in young women mediated by the internalization of the lean and muscular body and to identify the contribution of individual characteristics to this model. A total of 612 university female students participated of study. The students completed the Portuguese versions of the Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire-4 and of the Body Area Scale-Revised and a sociodemographic questionnaire. A hypothetical model was constructed using structural equation modeling to test the relationship between the variables. The model fit and the significance of the hypothetical paths were verified. The results provide evidence that the greater the pressure of sociocultural agents and the internalization of the lean body, the more women were dissatisfied with body and face appearance. The media contributed to a greater internalization of the muscular body, which reduced the body dissatisfaction. The practice of physical activity and a higher economic level contributed to a greater internalization of the muscular body, which reduced body dissatisfaction. A higher economic level also influenced the internalization of the lean body and increased the dissatisfaction with face and body. A higher body mass index contributed to a greater pressure from sociocultural agents, greater internalization of the lean body, and greater dissatisfaction with body and face. The relationships identified in the model can contribute to the development of strategies aimed at reducing body dissatisfaction and eating disorders in the population, such as body acceptance.

Strategies for eating and body change among Brazilian women and men

OBJECTIVES

Our study was conducted to adapt the Body Image and Body Change Inventory (BIBCI) for Portuguese; to evaluate the BIBCI's psychometric properties in samples of university students; to calculate the prevalence of strategies for eating and body change among students; and to evaluate the impact of demographic, social, and anthropometric characteristics on the BIBCI subscales.

METHODS

798 students (women = 63%) answered the Portuguese translation of the BIBCI and answered a demographic questionnaire. All analyses were performed separately for women and men. The BIBCI's psychometric properties were estimated using confirmatory factor analysis. Mean scores were calculated for each BIBCI subscale. A multivariate regression model was tested to evaluate the impact of demographic, social, and anthropometric characteristics on mean BIBCI subscale scores.

RESULTS

The psychometric properties of the BIBCI were adequate in the samples analyzed. The BIBCI subscales scores did not differ according to sex. According to the cut-off points adopted, most of the students were classified in the very low category of the BIBCI subscales. For women, characteristics such as self-reported eating assessment, economic class, physical activity level, and work were significant. For men, only physical activity level was significant.

CONCLUSION

The Portuguese translation of the BIBCI was presented and its psychometric properties were found to be adequate in the samples analyzed. The models identified significant characteristics that can be used in intervention protocols for preventing inappropriate behaviors in relation to body image and eating.

Body weight concerns: Cross-national study and identification of factors related to eating disorders

Background

Body weight concerns are common among individuals with eating disorders, and this construct can be assessed using psychometric instruments. The Weight Concerns Scale (WCS) is commonly used to assess body weight concerns.

Aims

To evaluate the psychometric properties of the WCS with Brazilian, Portuguese, and Mozambican female college students; to estimate body weight concerns; and to identify factors related to eating disorders.

Methods

Confirmatory factor analysis was performed. Factorial, convergent, concurrent, and divergent validity, as well as reliability, were assessed. Cross-national invariance was tested by means of multigroup analysis. Structural models were tested using the WCS as the dependent variable, while demographic and academic variables and body mass index were used as independent variables. Logistic models were tested to estimate the likelihood of eating disorders being developed in specific groups.

Results

Participants were 2,068 female students. The psychometric properties of the WCS were adequate for the Portuguese sample; however, for the Brazilian and Mozambican samples, it was necessary to correlate the errors of two items to improve model fit. The WCS did not show cross-national invariance. The variables “thoughts about dropping out of college,” “medication use because of studies,” “medication and supplements use for body change,” “body mass index,” “socioeconomic status,” “age,” and “performance in course” were significant predictors of body weight concerns. Overall, 24.4% (95% confidence interval = 22.9–26.7) of the students were likely to develop eating disorders. Students under 21 years old, who use medication and supplements for body change, and who were classified as overweight/obese have increased likelihood of developing eating disorders.

Conclusion

The WCS showed good psychometric properties with Brazilian, Portuguese, and Mozambican students; however, it did not show cross-national invariance. We identified important aspects for investigating body weight concerns and factors related to eating disorders.

Factors that contribute to the body image concern of female college students

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the contribution of sociodemographic and labor variables and body mass index to body image concern.

METHODS

In order to estimate body image concern, the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ) and the Weight Concerns Scale (WCS) were applied. A confirmatory factor analysis of scales was carried out. The reason χ2 by degree of freedom ratio (χ2/df ), Comparative Fit Index (CFI), Normed Fit Index (NFI), and root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) were used. Convergent validity was assessed through the average variance extracted and composed reliability and the internal consistency through standardized Cronbach's alpha coefficient (α). A structural model was developed, and the body image concern was the second-order main construct. The model appropriation was evaluated based on the goodness-of-fit indices. The z test was used to estimate the significance of trajectories (β) using a 5% significance level.

RESULTS

Totally, 595 female college students participated in the study, with a mean age of 20.42 ± 2.44 years. The entire model, with the inclusion of all independent variables, showed unsatisfactory adjustment and was refined. The final model presented a satisfactory adjustment (χ2/df = 5.75; CFI = 0.87; NFI = 0.85; RMSEA = 0.09) with inclusion of medication use because of studies (β = 0.08; p = 0.04), academic performance (β = 0.09; p = 0.02), economic class (β = 0.08; p = 0.03), and body mass index (β = 0.44; p < 0.001). This model explained 22% of body image concern.

CONCLUSION

Medication use due to studies, academic performance, economic class and body mass index significantly contribute to body image concern.

Body Size Perceptions and Weight Status of Adults in a Nigerian Rural Community

Background:

Overweight and obesity are now recognized worldwide as increasing public health problems throughout the life course and wrong perception of one's body size may reduce the motivation for an overweight person to lose weight.

Aim:

This study was conducted to investigate how Nigerian rural dwellers perceive their body size and how their perception agrees with their body mass index (BMI).

Subjects and Methods:

A cross-sectional sample of 183 adults living in a rural community, South-West Nigeria was randomly recruited into the study. Their verbal and visual body size perceptions were assessed through structured questions and body images. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data.

Results:

Thirty-five percent (64/183) of participants were classified as either overweight or obese by BMI. More than half of the participants perceived themselves as normal weight. More women perceived themselves to be obese than men in both verbal and visual perceptions. Based on BMI classification, 43% (79/183) and 54% (98/183) of participants misperceived themselves in verbal and visual perception, respectively. Underestimation of body size was higher in men (38.3%, 36/94) while overestimation was higher in women (9.0%, 8/89). Men had consistently higher values of kappa coefficient which indicate greater agreement than women in both types of perception.

Conclusion:

We found considerable gender differences in body weight perception of adults in the Nigerian rural community. A large proportion of these rural dwellers could not appropriately classify their weight status; and over 30% (64/183) and nearly 50% (92/183) of them underestimated their own body weight in verbal and visual perceptions respectively.

Prevalence and Socio-Demographic Determinants of Overweight and Obesity in a Nigerian Population

Objective

This survey explored prevalence of overweight and obesity and their associations with socio-demographic variables in a Nigerian population.

Methods

This cross-sectional survey involved 1521 adults in Nnewi. Age, sex, educational and occupational status, and BMI were recorded.

Results

Prevalence of overweight was higher in males (32.3%; 95% CI, 29.5%–35.2%) than in females (29.8%; 95% CI, 26.8%–33.0%); the reverse was the case for prevalence of obesity (19.6%; 95% CI, 17.3%–22.2% in males and 36.0%; 95% CI, 32.8%–39.4% in females). Higher odds ratios (ORs) for overweight and obesity were observed in participants aged 41–60 years (OR 2.03; 95% CI, 1.57–2.61 for overweight and OR 4.29; 95% CI, 3.25–5.67 for obesity) and those >60 years (OR 1.72; 95% CI, 1.21–2.43 for overweight and OR 4.21; 95% CI, 2.86–6.19 for obesity) compared to those aged 18–40 years. Female sex was associated with higher ORs for overweight (OR 1.20; 95% CI, 0.96–1.51) and obesity (OR 2.21; 95% CI, 1.73–2.83). Participants with secondary education had marginally higher ORs for overweight (OR 1.15; 95% CI, 0.88–1.51) and obesity (OR 1.17; 95% CI, 0.86–1.59) than those with tertiary education, and so were those with primary education for obesity (OR 1.19; 95% CI, 0.74–1.89) but higher OR for overweight (OR 1.44; 95% CI, 0.98–2.13). Unskilled participants had about the same OR for overweight and obesity as professionals, and while skilled participants had about the same OR for overweight as professionals, their OR for obesity (OR 1.27; 95% CI, 0.67–2.43) was fairly higher than that for professionals.

Conclusions

Prevalence of overweight is higher in males than in females, but the reverse is the case for prevalence of obesity. Older age and female sex are associated with increased risk of overweight and obesity, while working at a skilled occupation is associated with obesity, and tertiary educational attainment is associated with overweight.

Preocupação com a forma do corpo de graduandos de Farmácia-Bioquímica

Objetivo Identificar a preocupação com a forma do corpo de estudantes de Farmácia-Bioquímica e sua relação com variáveis sociais e laborais e com o estado nutricional. Métodos Participaram 346 discentes com média de idade de 20,2 (DP = 2,4) anos, sendo 278 (80,3%) do sexo feminino. Utilizou-se o Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ). As validades fatorial e convergente e a consistência interna (α) do BSQ foram estimadas. Utilizaram-se como índices de ajustamento o qui-quadrado pelos graus de liberdade (χ2/gl), o Comparative Fit Index (CFI), o Normed Fit Index (NFI) e o Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA). O escore médio de preocupação com a forma do corpo foi obtido por meio de algoritmo gerado na análise fatorial confirmatória. Para comparar os escores médios segundo as variáveis de interesse, utilizou-se Análise de Variância (ANOVA). Resultados O BSQ apresentou, para a amostra de estudo, adequada validade (χ2/gl = 3,29; CFI = 0,87, NFI = 0,82, RMSEA = 0,08) e confiabilidade (α = 0,97) após ajustamento. Verificou-se que as mulheres (p < 0,001) apresentaram maior preocupação com a forma do corpo que os homens. Além disso, os estudantes que avaliaram o curso como pior que as expectativas iniciais (p = 0,048), que consomem medicamentos por causa dos estudos (p < 0,001), que já pensaram em desistir do curso (p = 0,002) e foram classificados com sobrepeso/obesidade (p < 0,001) também apresentaram alta preocupação com a forma do corpo. Conclusão As varáveis sexo, avaliação em relação ao curso, ingestão de medicamentos por causa dos estudos, pensamento em desistir do curso e o estado nutricional apresentaram relação significativa com a preocupação com a forma do corpo entre os estudantes.