Weight underestimation and body size dissatisfaction among black African adults with obesity: Implications for health promotion
Background: Body image perception has an impact on modifiable cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, lifestyle and psychological health in many populations. Aim: To assess weight discordance (underestimating own weight) and body size dissatisfaction (perceiving body size as either ‘too small’ or ‘too la...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AOSIS
2019-10-01
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| Series: | African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm/article/view/2022 |
| _version_ | 1818411065341378560 |
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| author | Kufre J. Okop Naomi Levitt Thandi Puoane |
| author_facet | Kufre J. Okop Naomi Levitt Thandi Puoane |
| author_sort | Kufre J. Okop |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Body image perception has an impact on modifiable cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, lifestyle and psychological health in many populations.
Aim: To assess weight discordance (underestimating own weight) and body size dissatisfaction (perceiving body size as either ‘too small’ or ‘too large’) among overweight and obese South Africans, the associated factors and the implications for health promotion.
Setting: A rural community and an urban township in two provinces of South Africa.
Methods: An ancillary study within a prospective cohort involving 920 adults aged 35–78 years. Information on body image perception, anthropometry, risk factors and weight change were obtained on year 4 follow-up. Obesity was described as having a body mass index (BMI) 25 kg/m2. Descriptive and multivariate analyses were undertaken.
Results: Most obese and overweight adults, respectively, underestimated their own weight (85% vs. 79%) and considered their body sizes as either ‘too large’ (59%) or ‘too small’ (57%). Those who perceived CVD threat, compared with those who did not, were 3.0 times more likely to be dissatisfied with their body sizes (p 0.0001) and 1.6 times more likely to underestimate their own weight (p 0.001). Those who indicated their willingness to lose weight were seven times more likely to be dissatisfied with their body sizes and unlikely to have discordant weight status (p = 0.0002).
Conclusion: Body size dissatisfaction and weight underestimation were influenced by perceived threat of CVD and the willingness to lose weight. Obesity prevention should leverage on perceived CVD threat messaging and self-motivation for attaining a healthy weight. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T10:25:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7cd85d22859b446392e942c98491567f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2071-2928 2071-2936 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T10:25:29Z |
| publishDate | 2019-10-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-7cd85d22859b446392e942c98491567f2022-12-21T23:06:20ZengAOSISAfrican Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine2071-29282071-29362019-10-01111e1e810.4102/phcfm.v11i1.2022665Weight underestimation and body size dissatisfaction among black African adults with obesity: Implications for health promotionKufre J. Okop0Naomi Levitt1Thandi Puoane2School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa; and, Department of Medicine, Chronic Disease Initiative for Africa, Division of Diabetic Medicine and Endocrinology, University of Cape Town, Cape TownDepartment of Medicine, Chronic Disease Initiative for Africa, Division of Diabetic Medicine and Endocrinology, University of Cape Town, Cape TownSchool of Public Health, University of the Western Cape, BellvilleBackground: Body image perception has an impact on modifiable cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, lifestyle and psychological health in many populations. Aim: To assess weight discordance (underestimating own weight) and body size dissatisfaction (perceiving body size as either ‘too small’ or ‘too large’) among overweight and obese South Africans, the associated factors and the implications for health promotion. Setting: A rural community and an urban township in two provinces of South Africa. Methods: An ancillary study within a prospective cohort involving 920 adults aged 35–78 years. Information on body image perception, anthropometry, risk factors and weight change were obtained on year 4 follow-up. Obesity was described as having a body mass index (BMI) 25 kg/m2. Descriptive and multivariate analyses were undertaken. Results: Most obese and overweight adults, respectively, underestimated their own weight (85% vs. 79%) and considered their body sizes as either ‘too large’ (59%) or ‘too small’ (57%). Those who perceived CVD threat, compared with those who did not, were 3.0 times more likely to be dissatisfied with their body sizes (p 0.0001) and 1.6 times more likely to underestimate their own weight (p 0.001). Those who indicated their willingness to lose weight were seven times more likely to be dissatisfied with their body sizes and unlikely to have discordant weight status (p = 0.0002). Conclusion: Body size dissatisfaction and weight underestimation were influenced by perceived threat of CVD and the willingness to lose weight. Obesity prevention should leverage on perceived CVD threat messaging and self-motivation for attaining a healthy weight.https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm/article/view/2022weight discordanceunderestimationbody sizedissatisfactionblack africansobesityhealth promotion |
| spellingShingle | Kufre J. Okop Naomi Levitt Thandi Puoane Weight underestimation and body size dissatisfaction among black African adults with obesity: Implications for health promotion African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine weight discordance underestimation body size dissatisfaction black africans obesity health promotion |
| title | Weight underestimation and body size dissatisfaction among black African adults with obesity: Implications for health promotion |
| title_full | Weight underestimation and body size dissatisfaction among black African adults with obesity: Implications for health promotion |
| title_fullStr | Weight underestimation and body size dissatisfaction among black African adults with obesity: Implications for health promotion |
| title_full_unstemmed | Weight underestimation and body size dissatisfaction among black African adults with obesity: Implications for health promotion |
| title_short | Weight underestimation and body size dissatisfaction among black African adults with obesity: Implications for health promotion |
| title_sort | weight underestimation and body size dissatisfaction among black african adults with obesity implications for health promotion |
| topic | weight discordance underestimation body size dissatisfaction black africans obesity health promotion |
| url | https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm/article/view/2022 |
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