Sharon H. Thompson

Ideal body size beliefs and weight concerns of fourth‐grade children

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to assess racial and gender differences in perceptions of ideal body size among White and Black fourth-grade children. METHOD A random sample of 817 children (51.4% female, 51.8% White, and mean age 9 years) participated in a body image and weight concern survey. RESULTS Using socioeconomic status (SES), race, and gender as independent variables, Black children selected significantly heavier ideal sizes than White children for self, male child, female child, adult male, and adult female. Although almost one half (46%) of Black females wanted to be thinner than their current size, their body size selections were significantly larger than those of White females. Black and White males differed only in the selections of ideal-female child and adult sizes. Cross-gender comparisons indicated females and Whites experience more body dissatisfaction and weight concern than males and Blacks. DISCUSSION Our study indicates that early in the sociocultural development of children, gender, race, and SES are influential factors in selecting ideal body size and determining body satisfaction.

A Study of Body Weight Concerns and Weight Control Practices of 4th and 7th Grade Adolescents

Objective. The purpose of this study was to assess grade, race, socioeconomic status and gender differences in perceptions of body size, weight concerns, and weight control practices between 4th and 7th grade students in South Carolina. Design. Two random samples, consisting of a total of 1,597 children (53.1% white, 51.97% female, 44.9% 4th graders) participated in two questionnaire surveys. Both surveys included a series of seven female and seven male body size drawings, body image and weight concern questions, and questions pertaining to weight control practices. Responses to the questionnaire were analyzed using chi-square analysis and the General Linear Model. Results. Using socioeconomic status (SES), race, gender, and grade as independent variables, differences in ideal adult body size, opposite gender ideal adult body size, weight concerns, perceptions of family/peer weight concerns, perceptions of own body size and weight control practices were studied. Analyses revealed that 4th grade males select a larger ideal adult body size and opposite gender ideal adult body size when compared to 7th grade males ( p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0078, respectively). Fourth grade females indicated less personal concern about their weight than 7th grade females ( p = 0.0009). Fourth graders also perceived less family/peer concern about weight than 7th graders ( p = 0.0027) and 7th graders described themselves as being more overweight than 4th graders ( p = 0.0039). Blacks selected a significantly larger body size than white children for ideal adult ( p = 0.0287) and ideal opposite gender adult body size ( p < 0.0001 for males, p = 0.0030 for females). Blacks also perceived less personal and family/peer concern about weight when compared to whites ( p = 0.0083). More whites reported that they were trying to lose weight, as compared to blacks ( p = 0.0010). Males also selected significantly larger body size silhouettes than females for ideal adult body size ( p = 0.0012). Males expressed less personal concern about weight ( p < 0.0001), perceived less family/peer concern about weight ( p < 0.0001), and were less likely than females to be engaged in weight loss ( p < 0.0001). Females in the high SES category selected a significantly smaller ideal male adult body size than females in the low SES group ( p = 0.0124) and more females in the high SES category were trying to lose weight when compared to females in the low SES group ( p = 0.0055).) Conclusion. This study indicates that early in a childs sociocultural development, grade level, gender, race, and SES are influential in the perception of ideal adult body size and opposite gender ideal adult body size. These factors are also influential in determining concerns about weight and weight control practices. The findings of this study support the need to begin health and wellness education efforts early in childhood while taking into account racial, gender, age, and SES disparities. This knowledge can also be useful in targeting interventions for both obesity and eating disorders.

Black and White Adolescent Males' Perceptions of Ideal Body Size.

A stratified random sample of 496 white (n =337) and black (n =159) adolescent males participated in a survey of ideal body size beliefs. Responses to the questionnaire and a series of nine female and male body size drawings were analyzed using the General Linear Model Analysis of Variance and Categorical Modeling. Using SES and race as independent variables and BMI (kg/m2)as a covariate, black males were found to prefer a significantly heavier ideal female body size than whites (p <.0001) and also perceived that their parents, female friends, and male friends would select as ideal a significantly heavier female body size than white subjects. Black subjects were 1.9 times (O.R. = 1.88, 95% C.I. = 1.44, 2.47) more likely to select a larger ideal female hip/buttocks size and 1.7 times (O.R. = 1.72, 95% C.I. = 1.25, 2.37) more likely to choose a larger ideal female thigh size than white subjects. Our findings seem to point toward a greater approval and social acceptance of a larger body size for black females by black males.

Examining gender, racial, and age differences in weight concern among third, fifth, eighth, and eleventh graders

Weight management and concern, body weight beliefs, and perceptions of friends and familys weight concerns were examined in this study by race, grade, and gender. A stratified random sample was used to select schools within nine districts in South Carolina and an anonymous self-report paper-pencil questionnaire was completed by the students. The final sample included 3151 African American (42.3%) and White (57.7%) children (51.7% female) in the third (n=599), fifth (n=686), eighth (n=1168), and eleventh (n=698) grades. White girls were more likely to report being overweight (P=.0042), having higher personal weight concerns (P<.0001), and perceiving higher friend (P<.0001) and family weight concerns (P<.0001) than the African American girls. Using multiple regression, 29.8% of the variance in the childrens personal weight concern scores was explained by perceptions of familys weight concerns (R(2)=.1659), gender (R(2)=.0762), perceptions of friends weight concerns (R(2)=.0392), grade (R(2)=.0094), a Race x Gender interaction (R(2)=.0042), and race (R(2)=.003). Most of the children, particularly the white girls, have personal weight concerns and dieting practices which place them at risk for possible health problems. These results support the need for nutrition interventions and education in early childhood. Programs to prevent obesity and eating disorders should be tailored for differences by gender, grade, and race.

Black and White Women's Weight-Related Attitudes and Parental Criticism of Their Childhood Appearance

ABSTRACT Black (27%) and White (73%) women (n = 215) completed a survey assessing weight concern, ideal body size beliefs, body dissatisfaction, attitudes toward overweight body size, and parental criticism of their childhood appearance. Sixty-four percent of the women reported they were currently trying to lose weight and 63% desired a body size thinner than their own. High weight concern and negative attitudes toward overweight persons were reported, respectively, by 45% and 17%, of the women. The only significant difference found by race was weight concern as White women rated this significantly higher than Black women. No significant frequencies of choice were associated with the womens socio-economic level. Self-reported ratings of weight concernwere significant and positively associated with those for body dissatisfaction, negative attitudes toward overweight persons, negative attitudes toward ones own overweight, and criticism of childhood appearance by mothers or fathers.

Girls on the Run: Improvements in self-esteem, body size satisfaction and eating attitudes/behaviors

A pilot assessment of a curriculum-based running program geared for girls 8–12 years old (n=322) was implemented to assess influences regarding psychological risk factors leading to disordered eating among girls who participate in sports. Utilizing a pretest/posttest study design, researchers administered questionnaires in pre-program session T(1), and post-program T(2). Statistical tests on self-esteem (t=−10.628, p<0.05), body size satisfaction (t=4.359, p<0.05), and eating attitudes/behaviors (t=4.806, p<0.05) revealed statistically significant improvements from baseline to post program. A sport-training program supplemented with a wellness curriculum may be an effective primary prevention program for disordered eating attitudes and behaviors.

What Are We Feeding Our Inmates

The current economic downturn has caused some states to consider serving inmates less food to save money. Because South Carolina has been reported to have the lowest meal costs at

An Exploratory Study of the Relationship Between Night Eating Syndrome and Depression Among College Students

1.13/day per inmate, this study analyzed nutritional value of its prison meals. Menus were obtained from the South Carolina Department of Corrections and a county detention center. Analysis of adherence to Dietary Reference Intake recommendations revealed higher levels of cholesterol, sodium, and sugar and lower levels of fiber, magnesium, potassium, vitamin D, and vitamin E than recommended. Increasing fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and reducing sodium and sugar in inmate meals may improve health, decrease chronic disease, reduce medical costs, and benefit taxpayers.

Community Attitudes Toward School-Based Sexuality Education in a Conservative State

Night eating syndrome criteria include skipping breakfast, night eating, and sleep difficulties. It is associated with mood disturbances, particularly depression, and may contribute to later obesity development. Most research on night eating syndrome has focused on obese persons seeking weight loss treatment, and little is known about night eating syndrome in other populations; therefore, the purpose of this exploratory study was to examine night eating and depression among college-age students. A paper-pencil survey was completed by 270 students at a southeastern university that included demographic information, self-reported heights and weights, Night Eating Questionnaire (NEQ), and Beck Depression Inventory (mean age = 21.05, 64.1% female, 78.5% White). A significant correlation was found between total scores for the Beck Depression Inventory and NEQ (r = .35, p < .0001). Health professionals should be aware of characteristics of the syndrome to better diagnose and treat those students who exhibit traits of both depression and night eating syndrome.

Similar but Different: Sociocultural Attitudes towards Appearance, Body Shape Dissatisfaction, and Weight Control Behaviors among Male and Female College Students.

The purpose of this study was to assess community attitudes toward school-based abstinence-plus sexuality education. A dual sampling approach of landlines and cell phones resulted in 988 adults from two counties completing The South Carolina Survey of Public Opinion on Pregnancy Prevention. Among respondents, 87.1% supported school-based abstinence-plus sexuality education, and most of them agreed that various topics (abstinence, sexually transmitted diseases/HIV/AIDS, contraception) should be taught in grades 6 through 8. Few supporters believed that providing birth control information makes it more likely for teens to have sex. There was general consensus that schools and community settings should do more to prevent teen pregnancy and despite a conservative climate, respondents of this study support abstinence-plus sexuality education.