Body Size Preferences and Food Choice Among Normal and Overweight Mothers and Children in Malawi (P10-070-19)

Abstract Objectives Overweight in mothers and children in sub-Saharan Africa is rapidly increasing and may be related to body size preferences. The objective of this study was to measure mothers’ preferences for their own and their child's body size and how they relate to food choices. Methods We enrolled 271 mothers and their children (6–59 months) in Lilongwe and Kasungu Districts. Based on standard body-mass index and weight-for-height z-score cutoffs, 78 mothers (29%) were normal weight and 193 (71%) were overweight; 120 children (44%) were normal weight and 151 (56%) were overweight. Interviewers used a set of 7 adult female and 7 child body silhouette drawings and a semi-structured question guide to measure mothers’ perceptions of their own and their child's preferred and healthy body sizes and how their preferences affected food choices. We performed chi-squared tests comparing body size perceptions and grouped open-ended responses by weight status. Results Mothers’ selection of silhouettes that represented their body size preferences (67% normal weight, 68% overweight preferred overweight) and perceptions of a healthy body size (96% normal weight, 94% overweight selected overweight as healthy) did not differ by their weight status. A higher percentage of mothers of overweight than normal weight children preferred overweight child body sizes (70% vs. 48%, P = 0.003). Mothers’ perceptions of a healthy child body size (89% normal weight, 94% overweight selected overweight as healthy) did not differ by the child's weight status. To attain a larger body size, mothers said they could eat or feed the child larger quantities or more frequently and increase consumption of fatty/oily foods and drinks (such as sodas, sweetened yoghurt, and milk), but many cannot afford to do this. Conclusions Malawian mothers had strong preferences for overweight body sizes for themselves and mixed preferences for their children. Their desired strategies for increasing weight indicate that body size preferences may drive food choice but could be limited by cost. Funding Sources Drivers of Food Choice (DFC) Competitive Grants Program, funded by the UK Government's Department for International Development and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and managed by the University of South Carolina, Arnold School of Public Health.

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Menu Engineering and Dietary Behavior Impact on Young Adults’ Kilocalorie Choice

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13072329 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (7) ◽

pp. 2329

Author(s):

Christine Bergman ◽

Yuan Tian ◽

Andrew Moreo ◽

Carola Raab

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Weight Status ◽

Food Choices ◽

Normal Weight ◽

Design Stage ◽

Calorie Intake ◽

Independent Variables ◽

Menu Design ◽

The Relationship ◽

Overweight Subjects

The obesity pandemic is associated with increased consumption of restaurant food. Labeling of menus is an intervention used to provide consumers with kilocalorie (calorie) information in hopes of them making healthier food choices. This study evaluated the relationship between young adults’ calorie choices on restaurant menus and menu design, dietary behaviors, and demographic characteristics. A 3 (fast-casual restaurants) × 4 (menu-designs based on menu engineering theories) between-subjects (n = 480, 18–24-year olds) experimental design was used. The relationship between the participants’ calorie choices (high versus low) and menu design, stage of change, gender, race, educational level and weight status was evaluated using logistic regression. All independent variables had at least one category that had greater odds (CI 95% ± 5%) of subjects choosing a lower calorie entree, except education level and race/ethnic group. Normal weight and overweight subjects had greater odds of choosing lower calorie entrees than those that were obese. In addition, subjects that had started to control their calorie intake for less than six months or had sustained this change for at least six months, had greater odds of choosing lower calorie entrees compared to others. Including a green symbol and calories on fast casual restaurant menus may influence some young adults to choose lower calorie entrees.

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Dietary taste patterns by sex and weight status in the Netherlands

British Journal Of Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s0007114518000715 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 119 (10) ◽

pp. 1195-1206 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Astrid W. B. van Langeveld ◽

Pey Sze Teo ◽

Jeanne H. M. de Vries ◽

Edith J. M. Feskens ◽

Cees de Graaf ◽

...

Keyword(s):

The Netherlands ◽

Observational Study ◽

Food Choice ◽

Weight Status ◽

Normal Weight ◽

Taste Preferences ◽

Food Consumption Survey ◽

Key Driver ◽

Consumption Survey

AbstractTaste is a key driver of food choice and intake. Taste preferences are widely studied, unlike the diet’s taste profile. This study assessed dietary taste patterns in the Netherlands by sex, BMI, age and education. A taste database, containing 476 foods’ taste values, was combined with 2-d 24-h recalls in two study populations. The percentage of energy intake from six taste clusters was assessed in the Dutch National Food Consumption Survey (DNFCS 2007–2010; n 1351) and in an independent observational study: the Nutrition Questionnaires plus (NQplus) study (2011–2013; n 944). Dietary taste patterns were similar across study populations. Men consumed relatively more energy from ‘salt, umami and fat’ (DNFCS; 24 % energy, NQplus study; 23 %)- and ‘bitter’ (7 %)-tasting foods compared with women (21 %, P<0·001, 22 %, P=0·005; 3 %, P<0·001, 4 %, P<0·001, respectively). Women consumed more % energy from ‘sweet and fat’ (15 %)- and ‘sweet and sour’ (13 %, 12 %, respectively)-tasting foods compared with men (12 %, P<0·001, 13 %, P=0·001; 10 %, P<0·001). Obese individuals consumed more % energy from ‘salt, umami and fat’- and less from ‘sweet and fat’-tasting foods than normal-weight individuals (‘salt, umami and fat’, men; obese both studies 26 %, normal-weight DNFCS 23 %, P=0·037, NQplus 22 %, P=0·001, women; obese 23 %, 24 %, normal weight 20 %, P=0·004, P=0·011, respectively, ‘sweet and fat’, men; obese 11 %, 10 %, normal weight 13 %, P<0·05, 14 %, P<0·01, women; obese 14 %, 15 %, normal weight 16 %, P=0·12, P=0·99). In conclusion, our taste database can be used to deepen our understanding of the role of taste in dietary intake in the Netherlands by sex, BMI, age and education.

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Rapidly increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity in older Ghanaian adults from 2007-2015: evidence from WHO-SAGE Waves 1 & 2

10.1101/591222 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Stella T. Lartey ◽

Costan G. Magnussen ◽

Lei Si ◽

Godfred O. Boateng ◽

Barbara de Graaff ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Weight Status ◽

Household Wealth ◽

Normal Weight ◽

Overweight And Obesity ◽

Activity Level ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Central Adiposity ◽

Obesity Prevalence ◽

Prevalence Of Obesity

AbstractBackgroundStudies on changes in the prevalence and determinants of obesity in older adults living in sub-Saharan Africa are limited. We examined recent changes in obesity prevalence and associated factors for older adults in Ghana between 2007/08 and 2014/15.MethodsData on adults aged 50 years and older in Ghana were collected in the WHO SAGE Wave 1 (2007/08; n=4158) and Wave 2 (2014/15; n=1663). The weighted prevalence of obesity, overweight, normal weight and underweight, and of high central adiposity was compared in Waves 1 and 2. Multinomial and binomial logistic regressions were used to examine whether the determinants of weight status based on objectively measured body mass index and waist circumference changed between the two survey periods.ResultsThe prevalence of obesity (Wave 1=10.2%, 95% CI: 8.9-11.7%; Wave 2=15.0%, 95% CI: 12.6-17.7%) and overweight (Wave 1=19.6%, 95% CI: 18.0-21.4%; Wave 2=24.5%, 95% CI: 21.7-27.5%) was higher in Wave 2 than Wave 1 and more than half of the population had high central adiposity (Wave 1=57.7%, 95% CI: 55.4-60.1%; Wave 2=66.9%, 95% CI: 63.7-70.0%) in both study periods. Obesity prevalence was 16% lower in males and 55% higher in females comparing Wave 1 to Wave 2. Female sex, urban residence, and high household wealth were associated with higher odds of overweight/obesity and high central adiposity. Those aged 70+ years had lower odds of obesity in both study waves. In Wave 2, females with physical activity level were more likely to be obese.ConclusionOver the 7-year period between survey waves, the population prevalence of overweight and obesity increased by 25% and 47%, respectively, while underweight reduced by 43%. These findings differed considerably by sex, which points to differential impacts of past initiatives to reduce overweight/obesity, potential high-risk groups in Ghana, and the need to increase surveillance.

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Abstract P251: Relationship Between Body Size of Social Network Members and Body Size Norms of South Asian Adults

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.137.suppl_1.p251 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 137 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Nicola Lancki ◽

Juned Siddique ◽

John A Schneider ◽

Alka M Kanaya ◽

Swapna Dave ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Network ◽

Body Size ◽

South Asian ◽

Female Body ◽

South Asians ◽

Male And Female ◽

Weight Control Behaviors ◽

Body Sizes ◽

Average Body ◽

Healthy Body

Objective: Perceptions of a healthy body weight may be influenced by social norms within a social network. This study tested the hypothesis that social network body size is associated with body size norms in South Asian adults from the Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America (MASALA) study. Methods: South Asian adults (n=700) were asked to list their personal social network members, defined as the “people who you regularly talk with about things that are important to you,” at the social network ancillary study examination (2014-2017). Participants’ perceptions of their network members’ body sizes, their own body size (self-body size), and a healthy body size (body size norm) for men and women were assessed using the Stunkard 9-figure scale. The Stunkard scale is a silhouette figure rating scale consisting of 9 male and 9 female figures of increasing body size (range 1-9). Participants’ height and weight were measured, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. The average body size of network members was the main independent variable. Body size norm was the dependent variable in a regression model that controlled for age, sex, gender of Stunkard figure, cultural identity, self-body size, participants’ measured BMI, and social network size. A random intercept term was included at the participant level to account for clustering of male and female body size norms within participants. Results: Participants’ average age was 59 years (SD+/-9 years) and 43% were female. The average body size norm for male and female Stunkard images was 3.6 (SD+/-1.0) and 3.4 (SD+/-0.8), respectively. Participants’ average self-body size was 4.7 (SD+/-1.5). There were 2,991 social network members identified (mean number of network members=4, SD=1), and the majority (70%) were kin. The average network body size was 3.9 (SD +/-1.1). For every unit increase in their networks’ average body size, participants’ perceptions of body size norms increased 0.31 points on the Stunkard scale (p<0.01; 95% CI: 0.25, 0.36), independent of self-body size and BMI. Perception of a healthy body size norm was 0.25 points lower for female Stunkard figures than for male figures (p<.01; 95% CI: -0.30, -0.20). Conclusions: Having social network members with larger body sizes was associated with a higher body size norm in South Asian adults. Norms for female body images were smaller than for male images. Long-term follow-up of the MASALA cohort will determine if network members’ body size and body size norms are associated with weight change and weight-control behaviors in South Asians.

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Obesity and Body Size Preferences of Jordanian Women

Health Education & Behavior ◽

10.1177/1090198110376351 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 38 (1) ◽

pp. 91-98 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Hala Madanat ◽

Steven R. Hawks ◽

Heidi N. Angeles

Keyword(s):

Body Size ◽

Pearson Correlation ◽

Nutrition Transition ◽

The Body ◽

Body Sizes ◽

Ideal Body ◽

The Mean ◽

The Relationship ◽

Mean Current ◽

Healthy Body

The nutrition transition is associated with increased obesity rates and increased desire to be thin. This study evaluates the relationship between actual body size and desired body size among a representative sample of 800 Jordanian women. Using Stunkard’s body silhouettes, women were asked to identify their current and ideal body sizes, healthy body size, and their perception of the body size preferred by men. Body mass index (BMI) calculations indicate that 53.8% of the women were overweight or obese. Their mean current body size was 5, which is consistent with the mean BMI of 26 in the sample. Although 66% of the women were dissatisfied with their body size, the desired weight loss was not extreme. Pearson correlation was positive (.858, p <.0001) between measured BMI and body silhouettes chosen as an indicator of current body size. Jordanian women seemed pulled between the traditional and Westernized body preferences. Possible cultural explanations are explored.

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Body size preferences and food choice among mothers and children in Malawi

Maternal and Child Nutrition ◽

10.1111/mcn.13024 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 16 (4) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Valerie L. Flax ◽

Chrissie Thakwalakwa ◽

John C. Phuka ◽

Lindsay M. Jaacks

Keyword(s):

Body Size ◽

Food Choice ◽

Mothers And Children

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Food choice patterns of long-haul truck drivers driving through Germany, a cross sectional study

BMC Nutrition ◽

10.1186/s40795-019-0326-3 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Andreas Bschaden ◽

Siegfried Rothe ◽

Anja Schöner ◽

Nina Pijahn ◽

Nanette Stroebele-Benschop

Keyword(s):

Working Conditions ◽

Food Choice ◽

Weight Status ◽

Food Choices ◽

Truck Drivers ◽

Food Preparation ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Fresh Vegetables ◽

Haul Truck ◽

At Home

Abstract Background Long-haul truck drivers are exposed to unfavorable working conditions affecting their health but information on truck drivers travelling through Europe is missing. The study aimed to describe the populations’ characteristics and food choice patterns while working compared with eating patterns at home, taking weight status into account. Methods A cross-sectional survey using questionnaires in 12 languages conducted at two truck stops in Germany. Results Among 404 truck drivers of 24 nationalities, only 24% were normal weight while 46% were considered overweight and 30% obese. In regards to their health, more than half reported that they smoked and 32% reported at least one chronic disease. 37% ate their meals often or always at truck stops, while 6% never did so. The most common food items brought from home were fruits (62%) followed by sausages (50.6%), sandwiches (38.7%), self-cooked meals (37%), sweets (35.4%), and raw vegetables (31%). Bivariate analyses revealed differences in food choices during work and at home with more sausages, energy drinks and soft drinks, and canned foods eaten during trips. Fresh vegetables, legumes and fish were more often chosen at home. Available food appliances in trucks appeared to be associated with food choice patterns. Interestingly, food choice patterns and food preparation did not differ significantly across weight categories. Conclusions The working conditions of professional truck drivers make a healthy lifestyle difficult to follow and appear to influence food choices while working. Particular effort should be taken to improve food choice patterns, food preparation and purchasing possibilities during trips.

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Misperceptions, inactivity and maternal factors may drive obesity among Barbadian adolescents

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980007000195 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 41-48 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Pamela S Gaskin ◽

Hedy Broome ◽

Colin Alert ◽

Henry Fraser

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Body Size ◽

Weight Status ◽

Maternal Obesity ◽

Task Force ◽

Normal Weight ◽

Overweight And Obesity ◽

Recreational Physical Activity ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Prevalence Studies

AbstractObjectivesTo describe (1) the prevalence of overweight and obesity and their association with physical activity; (2) the effect of different cut-off points for body mass index (BMI) on weight status categorisation; and (3) associations of weight status with perceptions of body size, health and diet quality.DesignA cross-sectional study.SettingSecondary schools in Barbados.SubjectsA cohort of 400 schoolchildren, 11–16 years old, selected to study physical education practices.ResultsPrevalence of overweight (15% boys; 17% girls) and obesity (7% boys; 12% girls) was high. Maternal obesity, as defined by the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) BMI cut-off points, predicted weight status such that reporting an obese mother increased the odds of being overweight by 5.25 (95% confidence interval: 2.44, 11.31). Physical activity was inversely associated with weight status; however levels were low. Recreational physical activity was not associated with weight status in either category. Overweight subjects tended to misclassify themselves as normal weight and those who misclassified perceived themselves to be of similar health status to normal-weight subjects. The National Center for Health Statistics and IOTF BMI cut-off points produced different estimates of overweight and obesity.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that inadequate physical activity and ignorance related to food and appropriate body size are promoting high levels of adiposity with a strong contribution from maternal obesity, which may be explained by perinatal and other intergenerational effects acting on both sexes. Prevalence studies and local proxy tools for adiposity assessment are needed.

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Are weight status and weight perception associated with academic performance among youth?

10.21203/rs.3.rs-49199/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Maram Livermore ◽

Markus Duncan ◽

Scott T. Leatherdale ◽

Karen Allison Patte

Keyword(s):

Academic Performance ◽

Academic Success ◽

Achievement Gap ◽

Weight Status ◽

Weight Perception ◽

Normal Weight ◽

Weight Perceptions ◽

Body Sizes ◽

Math Grades ◽

The Right

Abstract Background: Emerging evidence suggests perceptions of being overweight account for many of the psychosocial consequences commonly associated with obesity, yet limited research has explored weight perception in associations between body mass index (BMI) and academic performance. The current study examined how BMI classification and weight perception relate to academic performance in a large cohort of youth.Methods: We used cross-sectional survey data from 61,866 grade 9-12 students attending the 122 Canadian schools that participated in Year 6 (2017/2018) of the COMPASS study. Mixed effect regression models were used to examine associations between students’ BMI classification and weight perceptions and their math and English/French course grades, stratified by sex.Results: For English/French grades, males and females with overweight or underweight perceptions were less likely to achieve higher grades than their peers with perceptions of being at “about the right weight”, controlling for BMI and covariates. For math grades, females with overweight perceptions, and all students with underweight perceptions, were less likely to achieve higher grades than their peers with “about the right weight” perceptions. All students with BMIs in the obesity range were less likely to report grades of 60% or higher than their peers with “normal-weight” BMIs. Overweight BMIs were predictive of lower achievement in females for English/French grades, and in males for math grades, relative to “normal-weight” BMIs. Results for students that did not respond to weight and weight perception items resembled those for obesity BMI and overweight/underweight perceptions, respectively.Conclusions: Overall, this study demonstrates that an obesity achievement gap remains when controlling for students’ perceptions of their weight, and that both underweight and overweight perceptions predict lower academic performance, regardless of BMI classification. Results suggest barriers to academic success exist among youth with larger body sizes, and those with perceptions of deviating from “about the right weight”.Plain Language Summary: An obesity achievement gap has been suggested as an early contributor to later socioeconomic disparities found by weight status. To date, limited research has examined how sociocultural weight norms contribute to potential links between weight status and academic performance. Emerging evidence suggests weight perception—individual’s subjective appraisal of their body weight—accounts for many of the psychosocial consequences commonly associated with obesity. We sought to determine if body weight and weight perceptions predicted grades in a large sample of Canadian secondary school students. It was hypothesized that perceptions of being at “about the right weight” would provide a protective effect. Overall, this study demonstrates that an obesity achievement gap remains when controlling for students’ perceptions of their weight, and that weight perceptions—both underweight and overweight—predict academic performance, regardless of BMI classification. Results contribute to a body of research that encourages the consideration of both overweight and underweight perceptions and their potential impact on adolescent emotional and physical health. Further research is needed to determine the mechanisms underlying these relationships, in order to remove barriers to academic success among youth with larger body sizes, and those with perceptions of deviating from “about the right weight”.

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Trajectories of Food Choice Motives and Weight Status of Malaysian Youths during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13113752 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (11) ◽

pp. 3752

Author(s):

Seok Tyug Tan ◽

Chin Xuan Tan ◽

Seok Shin Tan

Keyword(s):

Food Choice ◽

Weight Control ◽

Weight Status ◽

Dietary Habits ◽

Food Choices ◽

Average Weight ◽

Percentage Increase ◽

Multinomial Regression ◽

Multinomial Regression Model ◽

Food Choice Motives

Stay-at-home orders have abruptly altered food purchasing behaviour, dietary habits, and food choice motives. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the trajectory of food choice motives and their associations with the weight status of Malaysian youths in the time of COVID-19. Socio-demographic information and anthropometric measurements were self-reported by the respondents, while the food choice motives were assessed using a validated 38-item food choice questionnaire (FCQ). Of the 1013 Malaysian youths, 48.6% gained weight due to the confinement, with an average weight gain of 3.90 ± 2.92 kg. On the other hand, 47.0% to 73.0% of the youths changed their food choice motives in the time of COVID-19. Of the 10 motives, convenience (48.5%) had the largest percentage increase, followed by weight control (47.0%) and health (45.3%). Moreover, the mean scores of health (t = −3.324, p = 0.001), convenience (t = −5.869, p < 0.001), weight control (t = −7.532, p < 0.001), natural content (t = −5.957, p < 0.001), ethical concern (t = −4.419, p < 0.001) and price (t = −3.737, p < 0.001) were significantly higher during the pandemic compared to pre-pandemic. Findings from the multinomial regression model revealed that youths highly concerned for weight control were more likely to be in the weight loss category (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.633, Confidence Interval (CI) = 1.230–2.168, p = 0.001). Conversely, those who gained weight due to the pandemic confinement highly valued natural content in foods (AOR = 0.653, CI = 0.481–0.886, p = 0.006) when making their food choices in this unprecedented pandemic. In conclusion, Malaysian youths made healthier food choices to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 infection.

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