title: African American male and female student perceptions of Pulvers Body Images: implications for obesity, health care, and prevention.
abstract: Differences in male and female perception response to the Pulvers Body Image Scale (PBIS) were examined among 356 freshmen African American students attending an urban historically Black college/university (HBCU). Participants completed a questionnaire identifying images that best represented their current, healthy, and ideal body image. Compared with males, more females selected the normal body image as their ideal (63.3% vs. 15.3%) and healthy body shape (59.3% vs. 15.3%) (p&lt;.001). Compared with females, more males selected the overweight body image as their ideal (44.6% vs. 30.2%) and healthy body shape (52.2% vs. 36.2%) (p&lt;.01). Similarly, more males selected the obese body image as their ideal (40.1% vs. 6.5%) and healthy body shape (32.5% vs. 4.5%) compared with females (p&lt;.001). Male freshmen at an HBCU perceive a larger body image as healthy and ideal more often than their female counterparts, thereby increasing the potential for their weight-related health risks.
authors.forename: Sherine R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Mian Bazle
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Hossain
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bronner
mesh_terms: D044383:Black People; D001828:Body Image; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult; D001741:Black or African American