Does ethnicity influence body-size preference? A comparison of body image and body size.
OBJECTIVE
Obesity is most common in the United States among women of ethnic minority groups (black and Hispanic). Researchers have hypothesized that these subcultures are more accepting of overweight figures. The purpose of this study was to examine body image and body size assessments in a large community sample of men and women.


METHODS
Participants were 801 women and 428 men: 23% Asian, 45% Hispanic, 17% black, and 15% white. The figure rating scale was used to rate: body dissatisfaction, attractive male and female shapes, acceptable female size, and perceptions of underweight to obese female figures.


RESULTS
Controlling for age, education, and body weight, no ethnic differences were found for men. Asian women reported less body dissatisfaction than the other groups. Women were more dissatisfied with their size than men and chose thinner female figures as attractive and acceptable.


CONCLUSIONS
Ethnicity, independent of age, education, and body weight, does not influence preference for female and male shapes or tolerance for obesity.
Cachelin
Fary M
FM
Department of Psychology, California State University at Los Angeles, 90032-827, USA. fcachel@calstatela.edu
Rebeck
Ramona M
RM
Chung
Grace H
GH
Pelayo
Elizabeth
E
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology; D000367:Age Factors; D001213:Asian / Q000523:psychology; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003469:Culture; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology