Body mass index, eating attitudes and behaviors, body image and physical activity in young Caucasian and Asian Canadian women

Abstract

The effect of ethnicity on associations among Body Mass Index (BMI), eating attitudes, body image and physical activity is not straightforward, and few studies have assessed differences between Caucasians and Asians. To explore this, we recruited 51 Caucasian and 52 Asian (Chinese) healthy female university students living in Vancouver. Height and weight were measured and body fat assessed by dual‐energy x‐ray absorptiometry. Questionnaires were used to assess eating attitudes, body image, physical activity and energy intake (food frequency questionnaire). Compared to Asians, Caucasian women had similar energy intake (1778±633 vs 1759±713 kcal) and % body fat (28.3±6.4% vs 27.3±5.3%) but higher BMI (22.4±2.6 vs 20.9±2.0 kg/m2, p<0.01). Caucasians were more active (Baecke physical activity score 9.0±1.6 vs 7.5±1.5, p<0.001) and were more likely to report a current weight loss effort (46% vs 23%, p<0.05). However, Asian women had significantly higher scores (indicating greater dissatisfaction or more disordered eating attitudes) on the Beliefs About Appearance Scale (44.2±13.9 vs 38.5±13.6) and the Eating Disorders Inventory subscales for bulimia (13.8±4.5 vs 11.7±2.9), drive for thinness (19.8±6.6 vs 16.4±6.1) and body dissatisfaction (31.6±7.7 vs 27.4±10.0). With BMI as a covariate the size of these differences increased, and differences in scores on the Body Shape Questionnaire and the cognitive dietary restraint subscale of the Three‐Factor Eating Questionnaire became significant. Despite lower relative weight among Asian Canadian women, eating‐ and body image‐related concerns are common. Supported by CIHR MOP 79563.