 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Kesha A. Baptiste-Roberts, MPH1, Tiffany L. Gary, PhD1, Lee R. Bone, MPH, RN2, Martha N. Hill, PhD, RN3, and Frederick L. Brancati, MD, MHS1. (1) Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N Wolfe St. Rm E6035, Baltimore, MD 21205, 443-287-2769, kbrobert@jhsph.edu, (2) Department of Health Policy & Management, Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Hampton House 608, Baltimore, MD 21205, (3) School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, 525 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21205
Background: Body image influences perception of the need for weight control. Prior research suggests that African-American women report having less body image dissatisfaction than other racial/ethnic groups, although the prevalence of overweight and obesity among this group is disproportionately high.
Methods: We conducted a baseline cross-sectional analysis of 184 African-Americans with type 2 diabetes in Project Sugar 1, a randomized controlled trial of primary care-based interventions to improve diabetic control. Using the Stunkard Scale, we assessed current and desired body image and best body image in the opposite sex. We examined their relationships with BMI and correlates of body image dissatisfaction.
Results: In women, we observed a linear association between body image and BMI and calculated that a unit change in body image corresponds to a 2.9 kg/m2 difference in BMI. Women had a significantly lower desired body image corresponding to an approximate BMI of 27 than their current body image ( BMI ~33). Significant correlates of body image dissatisfaction included poverty, self-perception of being overweight and attempting weight loss (p<0.05). Men preferred a body image for women that was slightly heavier than the women desired for themselves (BMI 28 vs 27).
Conclusions: The majority of females perceived their current body image as heavier than their desired, although the desired would be considered overweight or obese using the NIH guidelines. This study implies that tolerance of a heavier body image among African-Americans is an important contributor to obesity and should be a focus of weight-loss interventions among this population.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Diabetes,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.