Relation of Self-Image to Body Size and Weight Loss Attempts in Black Women: The CARDIA Study

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-1998

Keywords

blacks, body constitution, body image, body mass index, self concept, weight loss, weight perception, women

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a009583

Abstract

It has been suggested that the prevalence of obesity in black women is high partly because self-image in black women is not strongly depandent on body size. To determine associations between self-image, body size, and dieting behavior among black women, the authors assessed an Appearance Evaluation Subscale (AES) score (range, 1–5), a Body Image Satisfaction (BIS) score (range, 2–11), and reported dieting behavior in a population-based sample of 1, 143 black women aged 24–42 years from the fourth follow-up examination (1992–1993) of the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study. Lower AES and BIS scores indicate poorer self-image and lower body size satisfaction, respectively. After adjustment for age, education, smoking, and physical activity, women in the lowest, middle, and highest tertiles of body mass index (weight (kg)/height (m)2 had mean AES scores of 3.7, 3.3, and 2.9, respectively (p> 0.001), and mean BIS scores of 7.8, 6.7, and 5.9, respectively (p > 0.001). after additional control for body mass index as a continuous variable, both AES and BIS scores were inversely related to ever dieting, current dieting, and previous weihgt loss of 10 pounds (4.5 kg) or more in all tertiles of body mass index. These results suggest that among black women, a higher body mass index is associated with poorer self-image and lower body size satisfaction and that these perceptions may be an avenue to promoting weight control.

Was this content written or created while at USF?

Yes

Citation / Publisher Attribution

American Journal of Epidemiology, v. 148, issue 11, p. 1062-1068

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS