Relationship of body perception and stress with obesity, food consumption and eating disorders among working women

Abstract

The influence of body perception and stress on the rising trend of obesity among working women was studied. Body perception, food frequency, stress and anthropometric parameters and body fat were assessed in female teachers aged 30-59 years from five colleges of Jalandhar, Punjab. Body satisfaction perceived as lesser concern with body shape was positively and significantly (p?0.01) correlated with BMI, body weight, waist circumference and body fat. Body dissatisfaction in terms of higher concern with body shape was significantly correlated with lesser consumption frequency of traditional sweets (p?0.05). Body satisfaction was found to be significantly (p?0.01) correlated with uncontrolled eating and emotional eating. Stress level showed a positive and significant (p?0.01) correlation with the consumption of traditional savoury snacks, western fast food and higher frequency of eating out. The stress level was also significantly (p?0.05) correlated with emotional eating. The study concluded that adiposity, eating behaviours and food choices were influenced by stress and a lesser concern about body shape among working women.