Search

Objectives: More than half of women do not achieve appropriate gestational weight gain. Maternal body image may be an important factor associated with gestational weight gain. However, this association has not been thoroughly evaluated. We aimed to elucidate whether body image parameters before and during pregnancy are associated with gestational weight gain in Japanese women. Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted at a hospital in Osaka, Japan from March 2020 to March 2021. We recruited women with singleton pregnancies in their second and third trimesters. Body image was assessed using the Pregnancy and Weight Gain Attitude Scale and additional questions. Gestational weight gain was classified as insufficient, appropriate, or excessive based on recommended ranges in Japan. One-way analysis of variance, chi-square tests, and multinomial logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with insufficient or excessive weight gain. Results: Of 266 enrolled women, 47 had insufficient weight gain and 100 had excessive weight gain during pregnancy. Risk factors for excessive gestational weight gain included a history of dietary restriction before pregnancy, negative attitudes toward gestational weight gain, and perception of body shape as fat and body shape dissatisfaction during pregnancy. Perception of body shape as thin during pregnancy was identified as a risk factor for insufficient gestational weight gain. Conclusions: Body image before and during pregnancy may be an important factor in preventing insufficient or excessive gestational weight gain in Japanese women. Healthcare professionals should consider body image when providing health guidance on weight management to pregnant women. Significance: What is Already Known? Body image is a possible factor in gestational weight gain. Compared to women in other countries, Japanese women of reproductive age tend to have a negative body image. What this Study adds? A history of dietary restriction before pregnancy and negative body image during pregnancy were associated with excessive gestational weight gain among Japanese women. Perception of body shape during pregnancy as thin was associated with insufficient gestational weight gain. Thus, even in a Japanese population, characterized by a majority of women with pre-pregnancy underweight or normal body mass index status, associations between negative body image and gestational weight gain were similar to those in other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine body shape perception in 218 adults without obesity or history of eating disorders during caloric restriction (CR). Methods: Comprehensive Assessment of Long-term Effects of Reducing Intake of Energy (CALERIE) is a 2-year, randomized clinical trial using a 2:1 assignment (CR, 25% reduction in calories; Control, typical diet). For this secondary analysis, we examined perceived body shape using the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ). Analyses of BSQ scores are reported by group, over time, by sex, and by BMI. Data for body fat percentage, symptoms of depression, food cravings, maximal oxygen consumption, and stress were analyzed for their association with BSQ scores. Results: Compared to control, CR reduced BSQ scores. Women tended to have greater concern with body shape than men across all measurement times. There was no difference in change in BSQ scores at 12 or 24 months between those with a BMI < 25 kg/m2 or ≥ 25 kg/m2. Change in body fat percentage was most correlated with change in BSQ score from 0 to 12 (r = 0.39) and 0–24 months (r = 0.38). For change in BSQ score, Akaike/ Bayesian information criterion (AIC/BIC) found that the model of best fit included the following three change predictors: change in body fat percentage, depression symptoms, and food cravings. For 0–12 months, AIC/BIC = 1482.0/1505.6 and for 0–24 months AIC/BIC = 1364.8/1386.5. Conclusions: CR is associated with reduced concern for body shape in men and women without obesity and with no history of eating disorders. Body shape perception among this sample was complex and influenced by multiple factors. Level of evidence: Level I, randomized controlled trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background As a consequence of ‘Western’ acculturation, eating disorders and body image disturbances, such as fatness phobia and body dysmorphic disorders towards musculature and body shape, are emerging in Africa, with young people the most affected. It is therefore important to accurately assess perceptions of body shape. However, the existing body image assessment scales lack sufficient accuracy and validity testing to compare body shape perception across different African populations. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate the Body Shape Scale (BOSHAS) to evaluate body shape perceptions related body image disorders in African populations. Methods To develop the BOSHAS, anthropometric measures of 80 Cameroonians and 81 Senegalese (both sexes included; 40.1% females overall) were taken for three body shape criteria: somatotype components, body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio. Subjects were selected to cover a wide variability in body shape and were photographed in full face and profile positions. To validate the BOSHAS, the scale was administered twice (2 weeks apart) to 106 participants (aged 31.2 ± 12.6 years) to assess its reliability. In addition, a questionnaire measuring different aspects of body shape (e.g. musculature) was also administered (n = 597; aged 36.7 ± 15.6 years) to assess its convergent validity. Results The BOSHAS includes two sex-specific subscales of 10 photographs each. Most participants were able to repeat their BOSHAS preference order. Test-retest reliability was also consistent in estimating Current Body Shape (CBS), Desired Body Shape and Ideal Body Shape for participants and their partners. CBS was correlated with BMI, and different BOSHAS indices were consistent with declarations obtained by questionnaire. Conclusions The BOSHAS is the first sex-specific scale of real African models photographed in face and profile, including large body shape variability. The validation protocol showed good validity and reliability for evaluating body shape perceptions and dissatisfaction of Africans.

Body shape dissatisfaction may lead to eating disorders or obesity, and factors such as personal and perceived others' ideals are important influences on this. While men and women could have different preferences on ideal body shape of a particular gender, societal norms within unique ethnic and social communities also influence the social perceptions of what same- and opposite-gender peers consider as the cultural ideal shape. The purposes of this study were to 1) compare the preferences for most physically attractive female body shape among Hong Kong university males and females with three different weight categories (underweight: <18.5 kg/m2, normal weight: 18.5 - 22.9 kg/m2 and overweight: =23 kg/m2); and 2) compare the preferences for most physically attractive female body shape, body appreciation, self-esteem and body shape satisfaction level among Hong Kong university females with three different weight categories.1051 Chinese women and 864 men studied in a Hong Kong university (aged 17 - 35 years; BMI = 13.8 - 42.3 kg/m2) participated in the study. They completed a self-administered questionnaire containing the Photographic Figure Rating Scale, the Rosenberg's self-esteem scale, and the Body Appreciation Scale. Results show that the gender differences in body shape ideals exist. Males have the same preferences for the attractiveness of female body shape. Females underestimate the size of men's preferred female body shape. The situation is the worst for underweight women. Among the three women's weight categories, the body appreciate score and body shape satisfaction were the highest in underweight women, while no self-esteem differences were observed. The misperception of body mass index and current body shape exists among the females. Public health education aiming to raise awareness on the importance of proper weight perception is urged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As a consequence of 'Western' acculturation, eating disorders and body image disturbances, such as fatness phobia and body dysmorphic disorders towards musculature and body shape, are emerging in Africa, with young people the most affected. It is therefore important to accurately assess perceptions of body shape. However, the existing body image assessment scales lack sufficient accuracy and validity testing to compare body shape perception across different African populations. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate the Body Shape Scale (BOSHAS) to evaluate body shape perceptions related body image disorders in African populations.Methods: To develop the BOSHAS, anthropometric measures of 80 Cameroonians and 81 Senegalese (both sexes included; 40.1% females overall) were taken for three body shape criteria: somatotype components, body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio. Subjects were selected to cover a wide variability in body shape and were photographed in full face and profile positions. To validate the BOSHAS, the scale was administered twice (2 weeks apart) to 106 participants (aged 31.2 ± 12.6 years) to assess its reliability. In addition, a questionnaire measuring different aspects of body shape (e.g. musculature) was also administered (n = 597; aged 36.7 ± 15.6 years) to assess its convergent validity.Results: The BOSHAS includes two sex-specific subscales of 10 photographs each. Most participants were able to repeat their BOSHAS preference order. Test-retest reliability was also consistent in estimating Current Body Shape (CBS), Desired Body Shape and Ideal Body Shape for participants and their partners. CBS was correlated with BMI, and different BOSHAS indices were consistent with declarations obtained by questionnaire.Conclusions: The BOSHAS is the first sex-specific scale of real African models photographed in face and profile, including large body shape variability. The validation protocol showed good validity and reliability for evaluating body shape perceptions and dissatisfaction of Africans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This exploratory study represents a cross-cultural effort to examine differences in dieting practices and weight loss attempts, perceived body shape, and body satisfaction between young Argentinean and Swedish adolescents. The study group consisted of 358 Argentinean (193 girls, 165 boys) and 874 Swedish (474 girls, 400 boys) 13-year-olds. A main finding was that Argentinean and Swedish adolescents did not differ on body satisfaction, although girls in both countries displayed greater body dissatisfaction than did boys. Dieting and weight loss attempts were more prevalent among the Argentinean adolescents, especially among girls, and did not appear to depend on overweight or perception of body shape. The samples also differed in their perceptions of body shape and the effect those perceptions had on their body satisfaction, with Swedish adolescents suffering more from negative body shape perceptions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: to investigate age and gender effects on body figure perceptions in a non-referred preadolescent and young adolescent population. Method: self-ratings of body shape, choices of current ideal body shape and choices of ideal older adolescent body shape from a range of line drawings of figures in a sample of 1150 school children. Results: Girls in all age groups indicated a desire to be leaner than their perceived current shape. Boys in the younger age groups indicated a desire to be heavier than their perceived current shape whereas boys in the older age groups indicated a desire to be leaner than their perceived current shape. Both genders perceived the ‘ideal older adolescent’ body shape of the opposite gender to be leaner than the ideal shape of their own gender. Boys preferred increasingly heavier male and increasingly leaner female older adolescent body shapes with age. Conclusion: There are significant gender effects in the perception of body shape preferences. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetarianism, which is increasingly widespread in Western societies, is underpinned by various motivations (ethical, environmental, health concerns …) and the question of its association with eating disorders continues to divide the literature. This cross-sectional study aimed to explore and compare eating motives/attitudes and bodily preoccupations of vegetarian and omnivorous participants from the general population. Forty-nine vegetarians and 52 omnivores, aged between 18 and 70 years, completed a battery of questionnaires including sociodemographic characteristics, Body Mass Indexes (BMI - current, ideal, lifetime lowest, and lifetime highest), the Food Choice Questionnaire (FCQ), the Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26), and the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ). Compared to omnivores, vegetarians reported lower current (p = .017), ideal (p = .009), and lifetime lowest (p = .005) BMIs, more motivations related to health (p = .001) and natural content (p < .0001), but less weight control motivations (p = .015). While no differences were observed in EAT-26 scores, vegetarians had lower BSQ total scores (p = .043), and lower scores on the Body Dissatisfaction related to Lower body parts (p = .025) and Unsuited Cognitions and Behaviors (p = .015) subscales compared to omnivores. Separate gender comparisons revealed that these differences existed only among women. Hierarchical regressions revealed that the natural content motivation was the strongest positive statistical predictor of the vegetarian group (Expβ = 1.18, p = .002), while the weight control motivation was a negative statistical predictor (Expβ = .710, p = .023). Results demonstrated that vegetarians expressed motivation for a healthy and natural diet, and were less concerned about controlling their weight than the omnivores. Vegetarian women had lower BMIs but expressed fewer psychological concerns associated with eating disorders than omnivorous women. Vegetarian diets appeared to be associated with health benefits and less body and weight concerns, particularly among women in the general population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]