title: Perceptions of overweight in US and global cultures.
abstract: We explored the hypothesis that perceptions of overweight vary in accord with the prevalence of overweight in specific populations. The present study investigated this relationship in samples from diverse groups in the US and four other countries. The perceptual threshold for overweight is the scalar point at which individuals determine the transition from normal to overweight. Perceptual thresholds for overweight were obtained from 812 adults in Korea, Mexico, Ukraine, Tanzania, and the US (Black, Hispanic, White and college student samples). A linear relationship was observed between the perceptual threshold for overweight and the population prevalence (r=0.52, adjusted R(2)=0.22, F (1/15)=5.24, p<.05), and this relationship was considerably stronger in the non-US samples. This finding links with the results of other studies documenting the influence of the social environment on both weight perception and weight transmission. Together, they suggest that the socio-cultural milieu and weight norms are components of the obesogenic environment and argue for the inclusion of weight norm interventions in weight management programs and public health initiatives.
authors: The Citadel, United States. Electronic address: johnsonw1@citadel.edu.
authors: William G
authors: WG
authors: Johnson
authors: The Citadel, United States.
authors: Bess B
authors: BB
authors: Bluestein
authors: The Citadel, United States.
authors: Fernanda
authors: F
authors: Dasilva
authors: The Citadel, United States.
authors: Nataliya I
authors: NI
authors: Moubray
authors: The Citadel, United States.
authors: Maggie L
authors: ML
authors: Orton
authors: Institute of Social Work, Kijitonyama, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
authors: Herieth
authors: H
authors: Balagaye
authors: Centro Universitario del Sur, Guzman, Mexico.
authors: Karina Franco
authors: KF
authors: Paredes
authors: Duksung Women's University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Mirihae
authors: M
authors: Kim
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology; D014455:Ukraine / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Normative overweight; Perceptions of overweight; Social transmission of weight