Hostname: page-component-7dd5485656-6kn8j Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-10-31T04:55:46.616Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Body image perception in relation to recent weight changes and strategies for weight loss in a nationally representative sample in the European Union

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2007

Sinead McElhone ,
John M Kearney ,
Ismene Giachetti ,
Hans-Joachim Franz Zunft  and
J Alfredo Martínez
Sinead McElhone
Affiliation:
Institute of European Food StudiesTrinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland
John M Kearney
Affiliation:
Institute of European Food StudiesTrinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland
Ismene Giachetti
Affiliation:
CNERNA–CNRS, 16 rue Claude Bernard, 75005 Paris, France
Hans-Joachim Franz Zunft
Affiliation:
German Institute of Human Nutrition, Arthur-Scheunert-ALlee 144-166, D-14558 Bergholz-Rehbruecke, Germany
J Alfredo Martínez
Affiliation:
Universidad de Navarra, Departmento Fisiologia y Nutricion, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.
Objectives

To assess body image perception and satisfaction with current body image across the EU and to explore the influence of sociodemographic variables, body-weight change and strategies for losing weight on body image perception.

Design

A cross-sectional study in which quota-controlled, nationally representative samples of approximately 1000 adults from each country completed a face-to-face interview-assisted questionnaire.

Setting

The survey was conducted in the 15 member states of the EU between March and April 1997.

Subjects

The questionnaire was completed by 15 239 subjects (aged 15 years and upwards). Data were weighted by population size for each country and by sex, age and regional distribution within each member state.

Results

Just 39% of respondents in the EU were satisfied with their weight and these were more likely to be male (46%) rather than female (31%). Across the EU 29% of Finnish subjects were content with their weight compared with 47% in Belgium and 48% in Luxembourg. The highest percentage of subjects who were content with their body weight was among females who were underweight (58%) and males who were normal weight (66%). A further 20% of underweight females wished to be lighter compared to only 5% of males. Diet was the most frequently selected method for losing weight especially among females wishing to be considerably lighter (27%) while males were as likely to use exercise as diet as a strategy to lose weight.

Conclusions

Geographical and sociodemographical influences on body image perception are evident across the EU. There were clear gender differences in the desire to be thinner with a high proportion of females who were underweight being content to be so.

Keywords

Body image perceptionSociodemographicsWeight changeEuropean Union

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
Public Health Nutrition , Volume 2 , Supplement 1a , January 1999 , pp. 143 - 151
Copyright
Copyright © CABI Publishing 1999

References

1Battle, EK, Brownell, KD. Confronting a rising tide of eating disorders and obesity; treatment vs. prevention and policy. Addict. Behav. 1996; 21: 755–65.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2Wolk, A, Rossner, S. Effects of smoking and physical activity on body weight: developments in Sweden between 1986 and 1989. J. Intern. Med. 1995; 237: 287–91.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3Van Mechelen, W. National policies for promoting physical activity, physical fitness and better nutrition in Europe. In: Simpoulos, AP, ed. Nutrition and fitness: evolutionary aspects. Children's health program and policies. World Rev. Nutr. Diet 1997; 81: 136–47.Google Scholar
4Dwyer, JT, Feldman, JJ, Seltzer, CC, Mayer, J. Body image in adolescence: attitudes towards weight and perception of appearance. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 1996; 20: 1045–56.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. Statistical Bulletin 1983; 64: 2.Google Scholar
6Ryan, YM, Gibney, MJ, Flynn, MAT. The pursuit of thiness: a study of Dublin schoolgirls aged 15 years. Int. J. Obes. 1998; 22: 485–7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7Rodin, J, Silverstein, L, Streigel-Moore, R. Women and weight: a normative discontent. In: Sonderegger, TB, ed. Psychology and Gender: Nebraska Symposium on Motivation. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1985; 267–307.Google Scholar
8Rodin, J. Cultural and psychosocial determinants of weight concerns Ann. Intern. Med. 1993, 119: 643–5.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9Foster, GD, Wadden, TA. The psychology of obesity, weight loss and weight regain: research and clinical findings. In: Wadden, TA, Van Italia, TB, eds. Treatment of the Seriously Obese Patient. New York: Guilford Press, 1992; 140–66.Google Scholar
10Fallon, A. Culture in the mirror: sociocultural determinants of body-image. In: Cash, TF, Pruzinsky, T, eds. Body Images: Development, Deviance and Change. New York: Guilford Press, 1990.Google Scholar
11Rosenbaum, M, Leibel, RL, Hirsch, J. Obesity. N. Engl. J. Med. 1997; 337: 396–407.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12Striegel-Moore, RH, Silberstein, LR, Rodin, J. Towards an understanding of risk factors for bulimia. Am. Psychol. 1986; 41: 246–63.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
13Bell, C, Kirkpatrick, SW, Rinn, RC. Body image of anorexic, obese and normal females. J. Psychol. 1986; 42: 43–9.Google ScholarPubMed
14Hsu, LKC. Is there a disturbance of body image in anorexia nervosa? J. Nerv. Ment. Dis. 1982; 170: 305–7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
15Fisher, S, Development and Structure of the Body-Image, Vol. 1. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum, 1976; 169–71.Google Scholar
16Casper, RC, Halmi, KA, Goldberg, BC, Davis, JM. Disturbances in body image estimation as related to their characteristics and outcome of anorexia nervosa. Br. J. Psych. 1979; 134: 60–6.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
17Fallon, AE, Rozin, P. Sex differences in perception of desirable body shape. J. Abnorm. Psychol. 1985; 94: 102–5.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
18Gila, A, Castro, J, Toro, J, Salamero, M. Subjective body-image dimensions in normal and anorexic adolescents. Br. J. Med. Psychol. 1998; 71: 175–84.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
19Halmi, KA, Falk, JR, Schwartz, E. Binge-eating and vomiting. A survey of a college population. Medicine 1981; 11: 697–706.Google ScholarPubMed
20Wilson, GT. Relation of dieting and voluntary weight loss to psychological functioning and binge eating. Ann. Intern. Med. 1993; 119: 727–30.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
21Kearney, JM, Kearney, MJ, McElhone, S, Gibney, MJ. Methods used to conduct the pan-European Union survey on consumer attitudes to physical activity, body weight and health. Public Health Nutr. 1999; 2: 79–86.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
22Ernaehrungsbericht. Frankfurt: Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Ernaehrung, 1992; 190–93.Google Scholar
23Goldsmith, D, Thompson, JK. The effect of mirror confrontation and size estimation feedback on perceptional inaccuracy in normal females who over-estimate body size. Int. J. Eat. Disord. 1989; 8: 437–44.3.0.CO;2-L>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
24Williamson, DA, Kelly, ML, Davis, CJ, Ruggiero, L, Blouin, DC. Psychopathology of eating disorders: a controlled comparison of bulimic, obese and normal subjects. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 1985; 53: 161–6.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
25Stunkard, AJ, Sorenson, T, Schlusinger, F. Use of the Danish adoption register for the study of obesity and thinness. In: Kety, S, ed. The Genetics of Neurologial and Psychiatric Disorders. New York: Raven Press, 1980; 115–20.Google Scholar
26Mintz, LB, Betz, NE, Sex differences in the nature, realism and correlates of body image. Sex Roles 1986; 15: 185–95.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
27Drewnowski, A, Yee, DK. Men and body image: are males satisfied with their body weight? Psychosom. Med. 1987; 49: 626–34.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
28Hesse-Biber, S, Clayton-Matthens, A, Downey, JA. The differential importance of weight and body image among college men and women. Genet. Soc. Gen. Psychol. Monogr. 1987; 113: 509–28.Google ScholarPubMed
29Czajka-Narins, DM, Parham, ES. Fear of fat: attitudes towards obesity. The thinning of America. Nutr. Today 1990; January/February: 26–32.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
30Rozin, P, Fallon, A. Body image, attitudes to weight, and misperceptions of figure preferences of the opposite sex: a comparison of men and women in two generations. J. Abnorm. Psychol. 1988; 97: 342–5.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
31Franzoi, SL, Shield, SA. The body esteem scale; multidimensional structure and sex differences in a college population. J. Pers. Assess. 1984; 48: 173–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
32Wadden, TA, Brown, G, Foster, DG, Letizia, KA, Stunkard, AJ. Salience of weight related worries in adolescent males and females. Int. J. Eat. Disord. 1991; 10: 407–12.3.0.CO;2-V>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
33Hsu, LG, Eating Disorders. New York: Guilford Press, 1990.Google Scholar
34Martínez, JA, Kearney, JM, Kafatos, A, Paquet, S, Martínez-González, MA. Variables independently associated with self-reported obesity in the European Union. Public Health Nutr. 1999; 2: 125–133.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
35Schulken, ED, Pinciaro, PJ, Sawyer, RG, Jensen, J, Hoban, MT. Sorority women's body size perceptions and their weight-related attitudes and behaviours. J. Am. Coll. Health 1997; 46: 69–74.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
36Epel, ES, Spanakos, A, Kasl-Godley, J, Brownell, KD. Body shape ideals across gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, race and age in personal advertisements. Int. J. Eat. Disord. 1996; 19: 265–73.3.0.CO;2-K>CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
37Wooley, SC, Wooley, OW. Feeling fat in a thin society. Glamour 1984; 02: 198–252.Google Scholar
38McAllister, R, Caltabiano, ML. Self-esteem, body-image and weight in non-eating disordered women. Psychol. Rep. 1994; 75: 1339–43.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
39Foreyt, JP, Brunner, RL, Goodrick, GK, Cutter, G, Brownell, KD, Stjeor, ST. Psychological correlates of weight fluctation. Int. J. Eat. Disord. 1995; 17: 263–75.3.0.CO;2-N>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
40Wadden, TA, Foster, GD, Letizia, KA, Stunkard, AJ. A multi-centre evaluation of a proprietary weight reduction programme for the treatment of marked obesity. Arch. Int. Med. 1992; 152: 961–6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
41Polivy, J, Herman, CP. Dieting and binging: a causal analysis. Am. Psychol. 1985; 40: 193–201.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
42Kassirer, JP, Angell, M. Losing weight—an ill-fated new year's resolution. N. Engl. J. Med. 1998; 338: 52–4.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
43Rippe, JM. Over-weight and health: communication challenges and opportunities. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 1996; 63 (Suppl.): S470–3.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed