Body size perception and ideal body size in overweight and obese young adult women.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the differences among actual body size, perceived body size, and ideal body size in overweight and obese young adult women. Actual body size was assessed by body mass index (BMI), while self-perceived and ideal body sizes were assessed by the Body image assessment tool-body dimension. Descriptive statistics were calculated and analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed on actual BMI as a function of perceived BMI. Of the 42 participants included in the study, 12 were overweight (25≤BMI<30), 18 were obese 1 (30≤BMI<35), and 12 were obese 2 (35≤BMI≤39.48). The mean ideal body size of participants was 25.34±1.33. Participants in general perceived their body size (BMI: 35.82±1.06) to be higher than their actual body size (32.84±0.95). Overweight participants had a significantly higher mean body size misperception than obese 2 individuals (µ dif=-6.68, p<.001). Perception accuracy of body size differs in women by BMI. Weight loss programs need to be tailored to consider body size misperception in order to improve treatment outcomes for overweight and obese young women.