Body dissatisfaction and eating attitudes in slimming and fitness gyms in London and Lahore: a cross-cultural study

Abstract

A questionnaire survey of women attending slimming and ®tness gyms in London and Lahore was conducted using the Body Shape Questionnaire and the Eating Attitudes Test. Twenty-nine South Asian and 40 White women in London and 35 English-speaking women in Lahore were recruited into the study. Similar associations between body mass, body dissatisfaction and eating attitudes were found in all three ethnic groups. Asian women, in London and Lahore, showed a decrease in body dissatisfaction (BSQ scores) with age, suggesting that younger Asian women may have been more affected by increasing`westernization' of attitudes to body shape. This cross-cultural study provides further evidence of the causal links between body mass, body dissatisfaction and eating attitudes across different ethnic groups.

Eating Disorders among Iranian Male Adolescents

“…These findings were similar to those of some studies that showed with increasing BMI and body weight, eating disorders increased (29,30). Although some of the studies reported abnormal eating behaviors in adolescents with normal range of BMI, this relation was similar to what other Asian countries reported (31,32).…”

Are There Ethnic Differences in Positive Body Image Among Female British Undergraduates?

“…That is, high self-esteem may act as a shield against the negative effects of sociocultural or familial influences, and, thus, lead to more positive feelings about one's appearance and body size. In addition, our results corroborate previous studies showing a negative association between participants BMI and BAS scores (Swami & Chamorro-Premuzic, 2008;, as well as studies showing a link between BMI and body concerns across ethnic groups (e.g., Lynch et al, 2007;Mumford & Choudry, 2000).…”

“…By contrast, the finding that South Asian women had the lowest body appreciation scores is consistent with the suggestion that they are at increased risk for developing negative body image and eating disorders (Dolan et al, 1990; Furnham & Patel, 1994; Hill & Bhatti, 1995; Mumford & Choudry, 2000; Mutjaba & Furnham, 2001; Thomas et al, 2002). Various hypotheses have been put forward to explain this finding, including the negative influence of ethnocentric media (e.g., Hill & Bhatti, 1995).…”

Body image perception and body dissatisfaction among rural Sri Lankan adolescents; do they have a better understanding about their weight?

“…Ours are 0.2 and -0.4 for girls and boys. Further, the adolescents in our study population report larger ideal body sizes when compared to those reported by Asians residing in Australia and the USA [10,31]. In contrast to the above studies, instead of a thin figure, adolescents in our study aspire an average figure as the ideal.…”