Factors Affecting Body Image Discordance Amongst Korean Adults Aged 19–39 Years

Abstract

ObjectivesThis study was designed to investigate factors affecting the discordance between body image and body mass index amongst Korean adults aged 19–39 years.MethodsData (N = 59,361) from the 2014 Korean Community Health Survey was analyzed using descriptive analysis, chi-square test, and logistic regression analysis.ResultsTo examine the factors affecting body image discordance as observed in 43.1% of participants, the group was subdivided into underestimation and overestimation. There were 36.0% of participants that were body image discordant underestimators and 7.1% were overestimators. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the underestimators tended to be men, graduated from high school, married, current/ex-smokers, ex-drinkers, had between 5 to 9 hours sleep (inclusive), had fair to good self-rated health, and demonstrated healthy weight control behavior, relative to the reference group. In comparison, overestimators tended to be in the 19–29 year group and had signs of depression. The OR of individuals who were men, married, and had healthy weight control behavior was significantly lower in the overestimators group.ConclusionThese findings show that tailored interventions to promote accurate body awareness should be based on the type of body image discordance. In addition, it is necessary to develop and implement a program of body image improvement that considers the factors affecting body weight discordance.

Weight underestimation linked to anxiety and depression in a cross-sectional study of overweight individuals in a Sami and non-Sami Norwegian population: the SAMINOR Study

“…Some demographic factors seem to influence weight underestimation. In our study, underestimation increased slightly by age, and this is also observed in several other studies 4 38 39. Higher education, which is often considered a proxy for higher socioeconomic status, was protective of underestimation in the non-Sami with overweight/obesity, and this is in accordance with findings of previous studies 4 31 38 39.…”

“…In our study, underestimation increased slightly by age, and this is also observed in several other studies 4 38 39. Higher education, which is often considered a proxy for higher socioeconomic status, was protective of underestimation in the non-Sami with overweight/obesity, and this is in accordance with findings of previous studies 4 31 38 39. Hassan et al 38 argue that the variation concerning perception of overweight/obesity and education may be due to obesity rates in general being linked to lower education levels in high-income countries as opposed to high education in low-income/middle-income countries.…”

“…More men (~53%) than women (~30%) perceived their weight inaccurately, and significantly more Sami women (34.4%) compared with non-Sami women (29.8%) underestimated their overweight/obesity. The discrepancy between women and men highly agrees with most studies published, and many of these are based on different ethnic populations 4 31 35–37. A study of Caribbean adults aged >40 years, however, showed equal sex distribution 38.…”

“…Marital status was assessed by the question “What is your marital status?” with the following five answer options: ‘married’,1 ‘cohabitant’,2 ‘divorced’,3 ‘unmarried’4 and ‘widow/widower’ 5. The variable was dichotomised into ‘married’ combining 1 and 2 and ‘single’ combining 3–5.…”

“…The motivation of weight loss or maintenance of normal weight depends on the individual’s realisation of his or her own overweight. Perceiving one’s body as slimmer than the actual weight, underestimation, is likely to result in maintenance of overweight or further obesity development and therefore also an increased personal health risk 4. Factors that influence perception of body weight may depend on sex, culture and socioeconomic conditions, and vary throughout a life course 5…”