Abstract
The emotional consequences of excessive body mass, associated with body image and acceptance, have become a global public health challenge as they may decrease the general well-being and hinder weight loss in overweight and obese individuals. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the influence of age, body mass index (BMI), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) on body mass acceptance, attitudes, and motivation toward body mass reduction in overweight and obese Caucasian women with excessive abdominal fat. The previously validated BodyMass–DRama (Body Mass–Dietary Restrictions: Acceptance, Motivation, Attitudes) questionnaire was applied in this study. The declared acceptance, attitudes and motivation towards body mass reduction were compared between subgroups based on age (20–40, 40–50, and 50–60 years), BMI (25.0–30.0, 30.0–35.0, and ≥35.0 kg/m2), and quartiles of WHtR. The age, BMI and WHtR were stated to be associated with declared acceptance, attitudes, and motivation towards body mass reduction. The different age groups indicated the following as the reasons for excessive body mass: young respondents—low physical activity and consumption of sweets; middle-aged ones—large/irregular meals; aging ones—large/irregular meals and low physical activity (p = 0.0161). While describing motivation toward body mass reduction, young respondents indicated the role of a physician or dietitian (p = 0.0012) or someone who can control them (p = 0.0044), as well as their expectation to be more successful at work after body mass reduction (p = 0.0045), while the aging ones indicated appreciation and plaudits from others (p = 0.0264) as a motivating factor. Respondents with the highest BMI declared having spending free time actively constricted (p = 0.0007); they declared more often than others of feeling exhausted (p = 0.0395) or tired all the time (p = 0.0445), but less often of feeling full of joy (p = 0.0457) or full of energy (p <0.0001). Respondents with moderate WHtR declared less often than others that they expect to enjoy socializing (p = 0.0376), but more often to be able to have a better vacation after body mass reduction (p = 0.0128), while those with the lowest WHtR expected to be more physically active (p = 0.0487). Women with the highest WHtR most commonly indicated external pressure from relatives or co-workers as a motivating factor for body mass reduction (p = 0.0435). Due to these differences between Caucasian women with excessive body mass, the approach of physicians and dietitians, as well as methods applied to motivate patients, need to be customized.
Highlights
According to the recent report on the global status of non-communicable diseases published by the World Health Organization (WHO) [1], 38% of adult men and 40% of women are overweight, while 11% of men and 15% of women are obese
The present study showed that age, body mass index (BMI), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) influenced body mass acceptance, beliefs, attitudes, and emotions toward body mass, as well as motivation toward body mass reduction in a group of overweight and obese Caucasian women with excessive abdominal fat
The present study revealed that based on age, BMI, and WHtR, the body mass acceptance, beliefs, attitudes, and emotions toward body mass, as well as motivation toward body mass reduction may differ among individuals, and the actions taken by physicians or dietitians to reduce body mass should be customized
Summary
According to the recent report on the global status of non-communicable diseases published by the World Health Organization (WHO) [1], 38% of adult men and 40% of women are overweight, while 11% of men and 15% of women are obese. The WHO [6] has indicated some important social consequences of having excessive body mass called weight bias, which is defined as the negative attitude of others toward individuals, and negative beliefs of others about individuals, with a high body mass [7]. Such a situation may lead to the so-called obesity stigma which is associated with social stigmatization and prejudice resulting in marginalization and inequities against individuals with excessive body mass [8,9]. Weight bias and obesity stigma have a negative influence on body mass [10], as they may provoke binge eating [11]
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