Comparisons of attitudes and practices between obese and normal weight women in Taiwan.
This study was designed to obtain baseline data regarding self-reported body image, attitudes toward overweight people, and dietary behaviors of normal-weight and obese women in Taiwan. Fifty obese women (BMI >= 27) and age-matched normal-weight women participated in this study. Written questionnaires were used for data collection. Simple frequency and t-test were used to analyze data. In general, the majority of normal-weight women perceived themselves as being heavier than their actual body weight. The normal-weight group had more high inaccurate images of their bodies than that of the obese group (72% vs. 24%). Obese and normal-weight women had similar attitudes to overweight people, but some of their attitudes showed significant differences. Obese women would prefer to consume more fried foods and drink sugar-containing foods than would normal-weight women (p < 0.05). Education about accurate perceptions of what is normal weight for women and adopting energy-diluted foods for obese women is needed in the future.
Hu
Shene-Pin
SP
Dept. of Nutrition and Health Science, Taipei Medical University, 250 Wu-Hsing Street, Taipei 11014, Taiwan.
Chiang
Tzu-Yin
TY
Yeh
Sung-Ling
SL
Chien
Yi-Wen
YW
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001828:Body Image; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan; D013851:Thinness / Q000523:psychology*; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology