Perceptions of the healthiest body in a market‐integrating indigenous population in Argentina: Fat idealization and gendered generational differences

Abstract

ObjectivesMarket integration seems to induce gender‐specific generational change in health‐related perceptions of body size. We predicted that among the Qom of Argentina, younger women would perceive comparatively thinner bodies as healthiest, demonstrating thin‐idealizing body norms, and older women would retain culturally rooted perceptions of heavier bodies as healthiest. As traditional and globalized body size ideals are different for men, we predicted that men would perceive normal bodies as healthiest and would not exhibit generational differences.MethodsWe asked Qom adults (n= 273) residing in Namqom, Argentina to choose the healthiest body size from the Stunkard Figure Rating Scale (FRS). We performed multiple linear regression with age, gender, and body mass index (BMI) predicting healthy‐body perception score.ResultsA majority of women chose overweight bodies as healthiest. As predicted, older women preferred heavier bodies compared to their younger peers; this generational effect was stronger among women clinically defined as underweight (BMI ≤19.99 kg/m2), and “normal” weight (20.00 kg/m2 ≤ BMI ≤24.99 kg/m2), as compared to women clinically defined as overweight (25.00 kg/m2 ≤ BMI ≤29.99 kg/m2) or obese (≥30.00 kg/m2). Men exhibited no generational effects and largely perceived bodies corresponding to a “normal” BMI as healthiest.ConclusionsAmong Qom women, there is evidence for the adoption of the idealization of thinness as healthy alongside traditional perceptions that fat bodies are healthy.

Body norms, body image, and media in a market‐integrating indigenous population in Argentina: A mixed‐methods investigation

“…Gender and age are thought to be strong determinants of the internalization of body size norms and body image, with women and younger generations more often susceptible to media-driven internalization of the thin ideal and body dissatisfaction (Esnaola et al, 2010;Sepúlveda & Calado, 2012). While body size norms differed by gender and age in 2010, with older women perceiving categorically overweight bodies as healthiest (Daiy et al, 2019), in this group, we found no statistical differences between genders and ages. Despite this, the qualitative interviews suggested that body norms and body image were internalized differently based on gender.…”

“…By 2010, these values increased to 76% and 63% (Lagranja et al, 2015). A 2010 cross‐sectional study investigating perceptions of body size suggested that older Qom women residing in NamQom perceive overweight bodies as healthy, while younger women perceive thinner bodies as healthy; the study also found that men prefer clinically “normal”‐BMI body sizes (Daiy et al, 2019).…”

“…We propose the hypothesis that exposure to media influences body image and body norms through internalization of what is portrayed as ideal and/or healthy. We expect that due to extensive market integration in the past decade and the recent global advent of social media platforms (e.g., Facebook, Instagram), perceptions of the healthiest body held by the Qom have shifted to favor thinner bodies since 2010, when previous data were collected (Daiy et al, 2019). We predict that greater media and technology engagement will be associated with perceptions that thin bodies are ideal and healthy, as well as greater body dissatisfaction.…”