scholarly journals Body Image in Women during Midlife

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 375-383
Author(s):  
Ksenia N. Belogai

The present paper deals with the body image formed in women during the period of middle adulthood, or midlife. The research featured Russian-speaking women, who demonstrated a global trend in that they expressed mainly negative ideas about their body and a standard dissatisfaction with their appearance. The women were concerned with their body weight, shape, and functional characteristics. In middle adulthood, body image is determined, to a large extent, by the exclusively female bodily experience, i.e. menstruation, pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding. For instance, women with a positive attitude towards their own body were less likely to have abortions or miscarriages, complications during pregnancy and childbirth. In addition, they expressed more pronounced positive feelings associated with the movement of the fetus in the womb. In general, positive body image was found to form in those pregnant women who moved on from evaluating their appearance to evaluating the functionality of their body. The data also showed that the body image in women aged 25–40 depended on the body mass index: women with a lower body mass index had a more positive body image.

2014 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 747-760 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carla Fernandez dos Santos ◽  
Inês Rugani Ribeiro de Castro ◽  
Letícia de Oliveira Cardoso ◽  
Letícia Ferreira Tavares

The aim of the study was to examine the correlation among different indicators of body image; between each one of these and nutritional status; and the association of these indicators with the Body Mass Index (BMI) of adolescents. A random sample of 152 students from public and private schools in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was studied. On four occasions, two silhouette scales and two questions regarding the opinion of the student about his/her body and weight were applied and weight and height were measured. The BMI was examined both as a continuous and as a categorical variable. The agreement between the variables was analyzed using the quadratic weighted Kappa statistics. The association between body image variables and BMI was examined by the comparison among median, mean, standard deviation and 95% confidence interval of BMI for each category of the body image variables. In general, the correlation among the body image variables ranged from reasonable to good; between these and the variable nutritional status, correlation ranged from regular to reasonable. Best results were observed among boys and students from private schools. All body image variables showed good discriminatory power for BMI, when it was analyzed as a continuous variable, even when controlling for potential confounders. The question about body seems to be better than that about weight to compose the questionnaire of a surveillance system for risk and protective factors for adolescent health.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 277-277
Author(s):  
Jacob Setorglo ◽  
Philip Narteh Gorleku ◽  
Kyei Roselyn ◽  
Kingsley Kwadwo Asare Pereko

Abstract Objectives The study assessed the body size perception of respondents against the WHO body mass index and related the body sizes to fat and sugar consumption among 20–45-year-old adults. Methods The study design was a descriptive cross-sectional survey which involved 200 respondents aged 20–45 years, sampled conveniently. at Sunyani. Data on socio-demographic, fat and sugar consumption, anthropometry (weight in kg, height in cm) were collected. The weight and height data were later converted into body mass index using the World Health Organisation (WHO) classification. Sugar and fat intakes were measured by dietary food based assessment. (Analysis was done using IBM SPSS version 25. Proportions were presented for categorical values. Chi square test of association was used to determine relationship between the independent and the dependent outcome variable. Statistical significant was set at and P < 0.05. Results The mean age of the respondents was 35 years. About 35.0% of respondents were males and the rest 65.0% females. Sugar and fat consumption among the respondents were within the recommended dietary allowances. Although 75% of respondents had normal body mass index (kg/m2) and 21% were obese based on the WHO classification, Majority (43.0%) of them perceived their body weights were normal. About 48.1% perceived they are either obese or had normal body size. There was no statistically significant association between respondents’ perceived body image and socio-demographic characteristics except for marital status (X2 = 8.82, P = 0.044). There was no statistically significant association between body image perception and dietary intake of fat and sugar. Conclusions There is great disparity in the perception of respondents body image compared to the WHO classification and married women and men are more particular about how they look. Dietary components studied do not have any association with body image. Funding Sources None.


Author(s):  
Rosalia Vazquez-Arevalo ◽  
Alberto Rodríguez Nabor ◽  
Xochitl López Aguilar ◽  
Juan Manuel Mancilla-Díaz

Abstract The objective of this research was to determine the body perception (BP) of preschoolers and compare it with the one reported by their parents. A total of 48 preschoolers participated (Mage = 5 years, SD = 0.5), 21 boys, 27 girls, and their parents (47 fathers and 48 mothers). The children were weighed and measured, also they answered the instrument Seven Figures of Collins (SFC) and seven questions about food, beauty and health. The parents answered the Body Image Questionnaire, the Stunkard Figures, as well as the SFCs to identify the real (RF) and ideal figure(IF) of their children. When children described themselves, they mostly referred the normal figure, coinciding with their parents. A very small proportion of preschoolers perceived themselves with obesity (around 29-30%); while any parent identified their children with obesity. 50% of preschoolers chose thinner silhouettes than their body mass index (BMI), but not emaciated. For RF, most parents chose normal weight for boys and light overweight for girls; for IF parents chose, for both sexes, the one with light overweight. In conclusion, the preschool BP disagreed between reality and perception, regardless of their BMI and gender. The parents also did not have an adequate BP for their children. Resumen El objetivo de esta investigación fue conocer la percepción corporal (PC) de preescolares y compararla con la que sus padres tienen de ellos. Participaron 48 preescolares (Medad = 5 años, DE = 0.5), 21 niños y 27 niñas, y sus padres (47 papás y 48 mamás). Los niños fueron pesados y medidos, contestaron el instrumento Siete Figuras de Collins (SFC) y, con relación a éste, siete preguntas sobre alimentación, belleza y salud. A los padres se les aplicó el Cuestionario de Imagen Corporal, las Figuras de Stunkard, además de las SFC para que identificaran la figura real (FR) e ideal (FI) de sus hijos. Para describirse, los preescolares refirieron mayormente la figura normopeso, coincidiendo con sus padres. Fue mínima la proporción de preescolares que se percibieron con obesidad (presente en 29-30%); mientras que ningún padre la identificó en sus hijos. El 50% de los preescolares eligió siluetas más delgadas a su índice de masa corporal (IMC), pero no emaciadas. Como FR, la mayoría de los padres eligió la normopeso para los niños y con sobrepeso ligero para las niñas; como FI eligieron, para ambos sexos, aquélla con sobrepeso ligero. En conclusión, la PC del preescolar discrepó entre la real y la percibida, independientemente de su IMC y sexo. Los padres tampoco tuvieron una adecuada PC de sus hijos.


2014 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-20
Author(s):  
Siu Kuen Robert NG

LANGUAGE NOTE | Document text in English; abstract also in Chinese. Introduction: The purposes of this study were to examine (a) the relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI) and the perception of body image, (b) the body satisfaction level (BSS), and (c) the most satisfied and dissatisfied body part. Methods: 588 university students (aged: 20.0±2.2 years; BMI: 20.3±2.8 kg/m2) from four universities in Hong Kong indicated their perceived ‘ideal’ and the ‘healthiest’ male and female figure from 9-figure rating scale. Body Image Discrepancy (BID) between their ‘current’ and ‘ideal’ figure was calculated. Results: Men reported significantly higher level of BSS than women. BMI correlated with BSS in women (r=.-263, p<.01) but not in men; BMI correlated with BID in women (r=.446, p<.001) and men (r=.587, p<.001). Most respondents indicated ‘no part’ as their most satisfied body part. Men and women stated their most dissatisfied body part was abdomen and thigh respectively. BSS was the highest in normal weight men and underweight women. Overweight respondents rated significantly larger figure as their ‘ideal’ size than their underweight and normal weight counterparts. Conclusions: An increase in BMI aggravates an increase in their desire to be thinner. It is necessary to help university students in Hong Kong to develop a healthy and realistic body image. 探討大學生(1)身體質量指數(BMI)與身體形象差異的關係; (2)身體滿意度; (3)最滿意和最不滿意自己身體部份。588位大學生從香港四所大學在9個由瘦至肥的男女剪影公仔中選擇(1)“理想”和“最健康”的男女體型; (2)代表自己“現在”和“理想”的體型來計算出身體形象差異。女性的身體滿意度比男性低並與BMI成反比。大多數指無最滿意的身體部份,男女分別最不滿意腹部和大腿。正常體重男士和過輕女士最滿意自己身體。總結,BMI與減磅意欲成正比。


2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Virginia Campedelli ◽  
Chiara Ciacchella ◽  
Giorgio Veneziani ◽  
Irene Meniconzi ◽  
Emanuela Paone ◽  
...  

Abstract PurposeThe purpose of this study was to test whether higher dissatisfaction with one's own body image, majorly than the body mass index (BMI), may be associated with higher levels of psychopathological aspects, hopelessness feelings, and psychophysical health. MethodsFifty-nine patients undergoing bariatric surgery filled out the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised, the Body Uneasiness Test, the 12-item Short Form Survey, the Beck Inventory Scale II, and the Beck Hopelessness Scale. Correlations and multiple regressions between measures were performed.ResultsDissatisfaction with the perception of one's own body image was strongly correlated with a worse psychophysiological health. On the contrary, BMI showed no significant correlation with the previous variables. Furthermore, the perception of one's own body image significantly predicted the state of psychological health.ConclusionThe findings of the present study showed a more relevant role of body image compared to the BMI in the association with psychological outcomes suggesting the importance to consider body image in the assessment and treatment of obese patients. Level of evidencelevel II, evidence obtained from well-designed controlled trials without randomization.


Author(s):  
Mahtab Senobari ◽  
Elham Azmoude ◽  
Marziyeh Mousavi

Background: The prevalence of sexual problems is high during pregnancy. Despite this, there are limited data about the impact of physical and psychological factors such as body weight and body image on sexual function in pregnant women. Objective: To investigate the relationship between body mass index, body image, and sexual function among pregnant women. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 206 Iranian pregnant women (106 with normal weight and 100 overweight women) in their 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy were surveyed. Survey instruments included the Female Sexual Function Index and Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire. Results: The prevalence of female sexual disorder was 72.3% in this survey. Diminished sexual desire/appetite was the most common problem reported by the participants (37.9%). The mean score of sexual problem and body image were not significantly different among overweight and normal weight women in the 2nd (p = 0.945 and p = 0.800, respectively) and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy (p = 0.310 and p = 0.507, respectively). Further, there were no relationships between the body mass index plus body image and the total female sexual function score (p = 0.44 and p = 0.837, respectively). However, the relationship between the appearance evaluation with lubrication (p = 0.043) and subjective weight with two subscales of sexual satisfaction (p = 0.005) and orgasm (p = 0.019) were significant. Conclusion: The findings from this study revealed that there were no relationships between body mass index plus body image score and the sexual function in pregnancy. Therefore, a further research is recommended to study other potential factors affecting sexual function during pregnancy.


PeerJ ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. e2547 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nassib Bezerra Bueno ◽  
Telma Toledo Florêncio ◽  
Fabiana Albuquerque Cavalcante ◽  
Isabela Lopes Lins ◽  
Ana Grotti Clemente ◽  
...  

BackgroundShort stature in adult life, a possible consequence of poor perinatal conditions, is associated with higher risk of mortality and social disabilities. We aimed to determine whether low-income, overweight/obese, short-stature (SS) women show alterations in body composition, self-body-image perception, and biochemical profile compared to their non-short (NS) counterparts.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted with women living in shantytowns and mother or relatives to undernourished children treated in a center for recuperation and nutritional education. Inclusion criteria were: (1) age, 19–45 years; (2) stature < 152.3 cm or > 158.7 cm; and (3) body mass index > 25 kg/m2. Socioeconomic, anthropometric, biochemical, and body image data were collected. We analyzed 56 SS and 57 NS women.ResultsThe SS group showed a higher waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) (mean: 0.63; standard deviation: 0.06 for SS and mean: 0.60; standard deviation: 0.07 for the NS group; p = 0.02), and, in the adjusted analysis, showed lower fat-free mass (Estimated Marginal Mean for the SS group: 45.7 kg 95% confidence intervals (CI) (45.2–46.2) and for the NS group: 46.9 kg 95% CI (46.4–47.4); p < 0.01) and higher fat mass (Estimated Marginal Mean for the SS group: 32.5 95% CI (31.9–33.0) and for the NS group: 31.4 kg 95% CI (30.9–31.9); p < 0.01). Body mass index was a better predictor of current self-body-image perception for NS women. The SS coefficient values were β = 0.141,SE= 0.059, and R2-Nagelkerke = 0.107, and the NS coefficients values were β = 0.307,SE= 0.058, and R2-Nagelkerke = 0.491 (Z= 2.006; p < 0.05). Considering the obese subgroup, six out of 32 (18.8%) SS women and 14 out of 33 (42.4%) NS women perceived themselves as obese (χ2= 4.27; p = 0.03). This difference remained significant even after adjustment by age, schooling, and number of children (p = 0.04). Only the total thyroxin showed significant differences between groups, lower in SS women (p = 0.04).DiscussionOverweight/obese, low-income SS women have more central adiposity and impaired self-body image perception, and the body mass index is a weaker predictor of it, compared to NS women. Misperception about body size may be linked with an overestimation of health and underestimation of risk, which may lead to a lower utilization of the health care system and inadequate physician counseling. These features may account, at least partially, for the higher mortality risk seen in SS adults.


2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (1-5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mai Shihah Abdullah ◽  
Wan Nur Syahida Wan Kamaruddin

This study was conducted to examine the body image perception and body weight satisfaction among teenagers in relation to their Body Mass Index (BMI) trend. Two instruments were administered; the questionnaire, body image perception and the body weight satisfaction among 1200 teenagers. The body mass index (BMI) pola among of 54.41% of the teenagers fall in the normal BMI (18.5-24.9). However, there was an increasing pattern of towards overweight and obese parallel to increasing of ages. This study shows the level of accuracy of the body image perception was highly correlated to the actual BMI, r=0.77, p<0.01. Tehe relationship between body weight satisfaction and BMI is low (r=0.373). To conclude, BMI level of teenagers is at satisfactory level but there is a tendency for them to project for the body weight less than the normal range as prescribed by WHO/UNICEF (1998). Hence, a constant monitoring is indeed required to avoid issues on body weight management such as obesity and under-weight among the teenagers population.


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