Weight Control & Ideal Weight
Weight Loss Study Aim
To describe lay definitions of ideal weight and overweight, to determine
whether they correspond with current health definitions, and to examine
the relationship between lay definitions and weight-control behavior.
Weight Loss Study Method
Cross-sectional survey of a representative sample of adults from Victoria,
Australia.
Weight Loss Study Subjects
1342 men and women, aged 18 years and older from across the weight spectrum.
Weight Loss Study Measurements
Questionnaire-based measures of current height and weight to determine
body mass index (BMI); weight that is considered to be ideal; weight that
is considered to be overweight; current weight-control behavior.
Weight Loss Study Results
The BMI at which women considered themselves to be at their ideal weight
was significantly lower than that for men. For both men and women, the
BMI defined as ideal increased with age and with current weight. The average
BMI at which women considered themselves to be overweight was significantly
lower than that for men, and was well within the acceptable BMI range.
Just over two-thirds of men, defined overweight at a level higher than
the current cutoff of 25 kg/m2. For both men and women, the BMI defined
as overweight increased with age and with current weight.
Weight Loss Study Conclusion
Lay definitions of ideal weight and overweight deviate substantially from
health definitions. Public health initiatives should stress that many
women are already a healthy weight, and encourage these women to focus
their efforts on weight maintenance rather than weight loss. Since so
few men have weight goals that are consistent with current health recommendations,
it will be important to raise their awareness of what constitutes a healthy
weight.
Source: International Journal of Obesity
(1999)
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