title: Weight and weddings: women's weight ideals and weight management behaviors for their wedding day.
abstract: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional survey to examine wedding-specific body weight ideals and weight management behaviors among women preparing for their wedding (n=272). The average bride-to-be was overweight according to clinical body mass index standards and idealized a significantly lower wedding weight. Most were attempting to lose weight and reported a small but significant weight loss using a combination of weight loss behaviors. Many women used one or more extreme weight loss behaviors. Additionally, some women reported purchasing a smaller-sized wedding dress, potentially to constrain behavior. Prior to weddings, interventions promoting a healthy, sustainable lifestyle may be useful to discourage extreme weight loss behaviors and emphasize healthy long-term weight management.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. neighboL@uwm.edu
authors.forename: Lori A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Neighbors
authors.forename: Jeffery
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sobal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008875:Middle Aged; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology