Cultural factors in the eating disorders: A study of body shape preferences of Arab students

Ford, Kathryn; Dolan, Bridget; Evans, Christine

doi:10.1016/0022-3999(90)90024-x

Cited by 50 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…He also found that high social physique anxiety and low self-esteem accompany eating disorders. Ford et al [9] replicated a study conducted on a Western (i.e., American) population in Egypt; both populations yielded similar results. In fact, the study showed a strong preference for thinness in Arab cultures.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 76%

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Modesty, Objectification, and Disordered Eating Patterns: A Comparative Study between Veiled and Unveiled Muslim Women Residing in Kuwait

et al. 2018

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Background: The common thread running through all forms of sexual objectification is the experience of being treated as a body (or collection of body parts) valued predominantly for its use to (or consumption by) others. If girls and women adopt a peculiar view of the self, an effect called self-objectification, this may contribute to depression, sexual dysfunction, and eating disorders. The objective of this study is to investigate the impact of modesty (in terms of veiling, i.e., hijab) on objectification, by others and by the self, body image, and behaviors indicative of eating disturbance in veiled and unveiled Muslim women in Kuwait. Methods: This is a community-based, cross-sectional study conducted through an online survey. The respondents were females living in Kuwait. Results: Unveiled women experienced more objectification by others than veiled women. There were no significant differences found between veiled and unveiled women in self-objectification and eating disorder symptomatology. There is a significant negative relationship between modesty of clothing and objectification by others. No significant relationship was found between modesty of clothing and the self-objectification and eating disorder scales. For the objectification by others scale, data show that there is a positive relationship between this scale and eating disorders. Eating disorders were found to have a negative relationship with self-objectification. Conclusion: The results of the study are significant as they clearly demonstrate a weak negative relationship between clothing preferences/affiliations and eating disorders.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 76%

“…In fact, the study showed a strong preference for thinness in Arab cultures. Ford et al [9] recommended that future research be conducted to determine the role of Arab culture in encouraging disordered eating.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modesty, Objectification, and Disordered Eating Patterns: A Comparative Study between Veiled and Unveiled Muslim Women Residing in Kuwait

et al. 2018

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“…To date, surveys assessing factors related to differences in weight loss behaviors among adolescents in several Arab countries are scarce. The handful behavioral risk factor surveys mostly conducted among college students are based on rather a small sample size (Ford et al 1990;Nasser 1986;Rasheed 1999). Furthermore, none has examined cultural factors in weight management behaviour among teenagers, at such a critical age when weight concerns and ideals are being established (Wardle & Marsland 1990).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Ethnic differences in weight loss behavior among secondary school students in Beirut: the role of weight perception

Mehio-Sibai

Kanaan

Chaaya

et al. 2003

Sozial- und Pr�ventivmedizin/Social and Preventive Medicine

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Findings of the study suggest that whereas actual weight may constitute only partially the driving force for differentials by ethnicity, the perception of body weight acts as a mediating factor in the relationship between ethnicity and weight loss behavior. Understanding the disparities in weight management behavior across various adolescent groups is key to develop culturally appropriate educational and intervention programs for the youths.

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“…Many people, however, do not appear to use published charts to determine their optimal weight (30,41). For example, approximately 40% of women and 25% of men in national surveys report they are trying to lose weight (14,34 Figure 1: Outlie drawings presented to subjects.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The answers to these questions require thinking about both appearance and weight but not necessarily their relationship. It seems reasonable to assume that people know what they need to weigh in order to achieve their desired size, especially in the context of a culture that emphasizes both appearance and dieting to lose weight (14,34).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Body Size Preferences and Desired Weight of Patients Who Have Received Obesity Surgery and of Comparison Adults

Rand

Macgregor

1995

Obesity Research

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GOR. Body size preferences and desired weight of patients who have received obesity surgery and of comparison adults. Obes Res. 1995;3:427-434. Patients who had received obesity surgery (n=144) and comparison adults (~7 2 ) selected the most attractive male and female size and the same-sex size they most wanted to look like from an array of 15 outline drawings. Subjects also reported their height, and current and desired weights (transformed into body mass index units [BMI]). There was a remarkable consensus on the sizes considered most attractive: Two male sizes were chosen by 78% of all subjects, and two female sizes by 83%. The hypothesis that adults who had obesity surgery would idealize thin sizes and, therefore, select thinner sizes and lower weights than comparison adults was not supported. Not only did patients and comparison adults selecte the same desired size, but women patients desired significantly larger BMIs than comparison women. There was a large range of desired BMIs associated with each desired size; the correlation between desired BMI and desired size was significant for women but not for men. It was speculated that subjects' desired size reflected cultural norms while subjects' desired BMI was a function of their current weight. Health professionals working in weight loss and/or physical fitness areas need to help clients understand weight-size relationships so that clients can have both realistic weight and realistic size goals. RAND, COLLEEN SW AND ALEX MC MACGRE-

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Cultural factors in the eating disorders: A study of body shape preferences of Arab students

Cited by 50 publications

References 17 publications

Modesty, Objectification, and Disordered Eating Patterns: A Comparative Study between Veiled and Unveiled Muslim Women Residing in Kuwait

Modesty, Objectification, and Disordered Eating Patterns: A Comparative Study between Veiled and Unveiled Muslim Women Residing in Kuwait

Ethnic differences in weight loss behavior among secondary school students in Beirut: the role of weight perception

Body Size Preferences and Desired Weight of Patients Who Have Received Obesity Surgery and of Comparison Adults

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