title: Assessment of the ideal body image of women in Accra, Ghana.
abstract: The hypothesis tested in this study was that the 'traditional build' is the culturally valued body shape by Ghanaian women. Culturally sensitive figural stimuli were designed to assess the current body image (CBI) and the ideal body image (IBI) of Ghanaian women. The most frequently selected model for the CBI was one that represented a slightly overweight woman; the IBI selected was consistent with a representation of normal body mass index; and the least healthy image was that figure that represented morbidly obesity.
authors.affiliation: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Department of Surgery RW871, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA. rduda@caregroup.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Rosemary B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Duda
authors.forename: Naana Afua
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Jumah
authors.forename: Allan G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Seffah
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Biritwum
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D044383:Black People; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity; D050177:Overweight; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012649:Self Concept