Women's perceptions of body mass index

Abstract

Women may not have an accurate perception of their own body weight and vary in understanding about healthy weight. The study's aim was to assess women's accuracy of their own body mass index (BMI), understanding of the healthiest body weight and opinion of the most attractive body figure. We surveyed 385 women (age, 19-77 years) attending our obstetrics and gynaecology clinics with an anonymous survey demonstrating a selection of Body Image Scale graphics to represent their current body, the healthiest body and the most attractive body. There was a significant positive correlation between Body Image Scale graphic selected and BMI (r = 0.80; P < 0.0001). The selected Body Image Scale graphic was accurate or within 1 graphic higher or lower than BMI in 88% of participants. The mean BMI of women accurately selecting the appropriate graphic (BMI, 29 ± 8 kg m^-2 ) was significantly lower than that of women selecting the graphic lower than their BMI (BMI, 37 ± 7 kg m^-2 ) but was significantly higher than those selecting a graphic higher than their BMI (BMI, 25 ± 4 kg m^-2 ). For healthiest figure, 58% women selected a graphic representing overweight BMI and 2% women selected a graphic with Class 1 obesity. For most attractive figure, 48% women selected a graphic representing normal BMI, 49% women selected a graphic representing overweight BMI and 1% of women selected a graphic with Class 1 obesity. It is important to provide counselling about ideal weight, healthy lifestyle choices and consequences of obesity.

Keywords: body mass index; obesity; perception; weight underestimation.