title: Body size preference and body weight perception among two migrant groups of non-Western origin.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate body size preference, body weight perception and their relationship with actual weight in two migrant groups of non-Western origin, Turks and Moroccans; additionally, to study the association between body size preference and acculturation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
  
  
  METHODS
  Males and females (18-30 years) were randomly selected from the population registry (n 451); participants, or at least one of their parents, were born in Turkey or Morocco. Body size preference was assessed using seven silhouette drawings and body weight perception was assessed by asking participants' opinion of own weight. Acculturation variables were generation status and two scale measures, cultural orientation and social contacts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants showed preference for a thin body size. The discrepancy between ideal and current size was significant in women but not men (P < 0.001). Perceived current body size was correlated with BMI (Spearman's correlation coefficient 0.60, P < 0.001 (men) and 0.73, P < 0.001 (women)). Among overweight participants (BMI = 25.0-29.9 kg/m2), 63-82 % of men and 35 % of women perceived themselves as 'average'. Paying attention to own body weight was associated with a discrepancy between ideal and current size among women and with perceiving oneself as 'overweight' among men. Body size preference was not significantly associated with the three acculturation variables.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We did not observe a preference for large body sizes in these two non-Western migrant groups. Similar to Western populations, most women wished to be thinner than they were. This was not the case among men, the majority of whom were also unaware of being overweight.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Medicine, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 22660, 1100 DD Amsterdam, The Netherlands. m.nicolaou@amc.uva.nl
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nicolaou
authors.forename: Colleen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Doak
authors.forename: Rob van
authors.initials: Rv
authors.lastname: Dam
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hosper
authors.forename: Jaap
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Seidell
authors.forename: Karien
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stronks
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D049628:Body Size / Q000502:physiology*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009018:Morocco / Q000208:ethnology; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D010465:Perception; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014171:Transients and Migrants / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014421:Turkey / Q000208:ethnology; D055815:Young Adult