Mchiza Zandile J, Parker Whadi-Ah, Makoae Mokhantso, Sewpaul Ronel, Kupamupindi Takura, Labadarios Demetre
Population Health, Health Systems and Innovation (PHHSI), Human Sciences Research Council, Private Bag X9182, Cape Town, 8000 12th Floor, Plein Park Building, 69-83 Plein Street, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa.
Human and Social Development, Human Sciences Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa.
BMC Public Health. 2015 Sep 30;15:992. doi: 10.1186/s12889-015-2324-y.
South African studies have suggested that differences in obesity prevalence between groups may be partly related to differences in body image and body size dissatisfaction. However, there has never been a national study that measured body image and its relationship to weight control in the country. Hence, the main aim of the study was to examine body image in relation to body mass index and weight control in South Africa.
A cross-sectional survey and a secondary analyses of data were undertaken for 6 411 South Africans (15+ years) participating in the first South African National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Body image was investigated in relation to weight status and attempts to lose or gain weight. Data were analysed using STATA version 11.0. Descriptive statistics are presented as counts (numbers), percentages, means, standard error of means, and 95 % confidence intervals. Any differences in values were considered to be significantly different if the confidence intervals did not overlap.
Overall, 84.5 % participants had a largely distorted body image and 45.3 % were highly dissatisfied about their body size. Overweight and obese participants under estimated their body size and desired to be thinner. On the other hand, normal- and under-weight participants over estimated their body size and desired to be fatter. Only 12.1 and 10.1 % of participants attempted to lose or gain weight, respectively, mainly by adjusting dietary intake and physical activity.
Body mass index appears to influence body image and weight adjustment in South Africa.
South Africans at the extreme ends of the body mass index range have a largely distorted body image and are highly dissatisfied by it. This suggests a need for health education and beneficial weight control strategies to halt the obesity epidemic in the country.
南非的研究表明，不同群体之间肥胖患病率的差异可能部分与身体形象和对体型的不满差异有关。然而，该国从未有过一项衡量身体形象及其与体重控制关系的全国性研究。因此，本研究的主要目的是在南非考察身体形象与体重指数及体重控制的关系。
对参与首次南非全国健康与营养检查调查的6411名南非人（15岁及以上）进行了横断面调查和数据二次分析。研究了身体形象与体重状况以及增减体重尝试之间的关系。使用STATA 11.0版对数据进行分析。描述性统计以计数（数字）、百分比、均值、均值标准误差和95%置信区间表示。如果置信区间不重叠，则认为值的任何差异具有显著差异。
总体而言，84.5%的参与者身体形象存在很大扭曲，45.3%的参与者对自己的体型非常不满意。超重和肥胖参与者低估了自己的体型，希望更瘦。另一方面，正常体重和体重过轻的参与者高估了自己的体型，希望更胖。分别只有12.1%和10.1%的参与者尝试减肥或增重，主要是通过调整饮食摄入和体育活动。
在南非，体重指数似乎会影响身体形象和体重调整。
体重指数范围两端的南非人身体形象存在很大扭曲，并对此深感不满。这表明需要开展健康教育和有益的体重控制策略，以遏制该国的肥胖流行。
