Abstract
BackgroundThe social valorisation of overweight in African populations could promote high-risk eating behaviours and therefore become a risk factor of obesity. However, existing scales to assess body image are usually not accurate enough to allow comparative studies of body weight perception in different African populations. This study aimed to develop and validate the Body Size Scale (BSS) to estimate African body weight perception.MethodsAnthropometric measures of 80 Cameroonians and 81 Senegalese were used to evaluate three criteria of adiposity: body mass index (BMI), overall percentage of fat, and endomorphy (fat component of the somatotype). To develop the BSS, the participants were photographed in full face and profile positions. Models were selected for their representativeness of the wide variability in adiposity with a progressive increase along the scale. Then, for the validation protocol, participants self-administered the BSS to assess self-perceived current body size (CBS), desired body size (DBS) and provide a “body self-satisfaction index.” This protocol included construct validity, test-retest reliability and convergent validity and was carried out with three independent samples of respectively 201, 103 and 1115 Cameroonians.ResultsThe BSS comprises two sex-specific scales of photos of 9 models each, and ordered by increasing adiposity. Most participants were able to correctly order the BSS by increasing adiposity, using three different words to define body size. Test-retest reliability was consistent in estimating CBS, DBS and the “body self-satisfaction index.” The CBS was highly correlated to the objective BMI, and two different indexes assessed with the BSS were consistent with declarations obtained in interviews.ConclusionThe BSS is the first scale with photos of real African models taken in both full face and profile and representing a wide and representative variability in adiposity. The validation protocol proved its reliability for estimating body weight perception in Africans.
Highlights
Over the past few decades the worldwide prevalence of obesity has dramatically increased and has become one of the most important public health issues [1]
Test-retest reliability was consistent in estimating current body size (CBS), desired body size (DBS) and the “body self-satisfaction index.”
Body Size Scale for All African Populations correlated to the objective body mass index (BMI), and two different indexes assessed with the BSS were consistent with declarations obtained in interviews
Summary
Over the past few decades the worldwide prevalence of obesity has dramatically increased and has become one of the most important public health issues [1]. Nutritional transition exposes urban populations to a high-calorie diet, a low level of physical activity and sedentary behaviour, all risk factors in overweight and obesity [1]. Studies in Western countries have highlighted that overweight weight and obesity are positively associated to mental disorders such as eating disorders and body dysmorphic disorders [3]. Populations living in Western countries are faced with an ambivalent situation, where the prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing while slimness is predominantly the desired body shape [4]. The social valorisation of overweight in African populations could promote high-risk eating behaviours and become a risk factor of obesity. Existing scales to assess body image are usually not accurate enough to allow comparative studies of body weight perception in different African populations. This study aimed to develop and validate the Body Size Scale (BSS) to estimate African body weight perception
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