Ethnic differences in BMI and body/self-dissatisfaction among Whites, Asian subgroups, Pacific Islanders, and African-Americans.
OBJECTIVE
To distinguish body mass index (BMI) and body/self-dissatisfaction among Asian subgroups.


METHODS
211 white, 155 Japanese, 112 African-American, 79 Filipino, 70 Chinese, 70 Hawaiian, and 124 multiethnic college students in Hawaii completed: Figure Drawings (index of body-dissatisfaction), self-loathing subscale (SLSS, exercise-based measure of self-dissatisfaction), Eating Disorder Inventory-2 (EDI), and symptom self-report. Pearson correlation analyses were performed to determine whether BMI scores were related to self- and body-dissatisfaction and the relationship between self- and body-dissatisfaction.


RESULTS
BMI was highly correlated with body and self-dissatisfaction for males and females. Males appeared more satisfied than females with the body and more diverse in choice of larger or smaller ideal body type. Highly significant BMI/ethnic group differences emerged. White males were large (high BMI) but very satisfied with body and self. Filipino males were the largest of all male groups but followed a female pattern of strong body/self-dislike and preference for smaller body. Chinese females were small and highly satisfied with body/self whereas Japanese females were small but highly dissatisfied with body/self.


CONCLUSIONS
Combining various ethnic groups under a single "Asian" category obscures important group differences. Study clearly demonstrates Asian ethnic subgroup differences in BMI and body/self dissatisfaction.
Yates
Alayne
A
Department of Psychiatry, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813, USA. yatesa@dop.hawaii.edu
Edman
Jeanne
J
Aruguete
Mara
M
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D001213:Asian / Q000523:psychology*; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006254:Hawaii; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044468:Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D014495:Universities; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology*