Body Image & Weight Loss Study
Body image disturbance in obese outpatients
before and after weight loss in relation to race, gender, binge eating,
and age of onset of obesity
Body Image/Weight Loss Study - Aim
To assess body image disturbance as a composite of three aspects (distortion,
discrepancy, and dissatisfaction) in obese subjects before and after weight
loss. Disturbance was then related to race, gender, binge eating behavior,
and age of onset of obesity.
Body Image/Weight Loss Study - Methods
Eighty-two obese outpatients (24 males, 58 females) completed the Stunkard
Figure Rating Scale (FRS). A Disturbance score was derived from the weighted
sum of distortion, discrepancy, and dissatisfaction. The measures were
repeated 4 weeks after starting a medically supervised liquid formula
diet.
Body Image/Weight Loss Study - Results
Prior to weight loss, race (r =.28, p =.01) and gender (r =.25, p =.02)
were each predictive of disturbance, with Caucasians and men having the
most disturbance. Binge eaters exhibited more discrepancy (p =.03) and
dissatisfaction (p =.005) than non-binge eaters. Early-onset subjects
demonstrated more discrepancy than adult-onset subjects (p =.02). Following
weight loss, disturbance scores decreased for all groups (p =.009). However,
early-onset subjects still showed more discrepancy (p =.002) and more
dissatisfaction (p =.005) than adult-onset subjects.
Body Image/Weight Loss Study - Issues
Body image disturbance was viewed as a composite of three aspects. Prior
to weight loss, the high disturbance score in Caucasians may be due to
them experiencing greater cultural pressure to be thin. The men may have
exaggerated their degree of obesity because of less denial of being overweight
than women. Following weight loss, disturbance decreased for all groups
but remained elevated for those with early onset, possibly because of
a persistent self-image from adolescence.
Source: New York Obesity Research Center,
Department of Medicine, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, Columbia
University. 2002.
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