TY - JOUR
T1 - Sex differences in perceived weight-based stigmatization among African Americans
AU - Scott-Johnson, Pamela E.
AU - Gross, Susan M.
AU - Gray, Lynnett M.
AU - Zhu, Shijun
AU - Browne, Dorothy C.
PY - 2010/3
Y1 - 2010/3
N2 - This study examined sex differences in calculated and perceived weights and weight-based stigmatization. 371 African Americans (females=258) responded to a health and wellness survey. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated from self-reported height and weight and categorized as underweight (7.0%), normal (48.2%), overweight (29.9%), and obese (14.8%). Perceived weight was measured by asking participants, "Do you consider yourself to be overweight?" Responses were then dichotomized as accurate or inaccurate. Stigmatization was constructed from 16 statements regarding perceived treatment due to weight status. Males and females differed in their perceptions of their weights. More than 20% of the participants had inaccurate perceptions of their weights, with the majority of the inaccurate participants (82.5%) perceiving their weight status lower than their actual weight status. More overweight or obese males than overweight or obese females did not perceive themselves as overweight (60.3% vs 28.3%, respectively, P<.001). While male and female perceptions of weight-based stigmatization were not statistically different (P=.071), participants who accurately perceived themselves to be overweight had higher perceived weight-based stigma scores than inaccurate participants who were overweight (P=.001). Males and females who were inaccurate were less likely to perceive weight-based stigmatization.
AB - This study examined sex differences in calculated and perceived weights and weight-based stigmatization. 371 African Americans (females=258) responded to a health and wellness survey. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated from self-reported height and weight and categorized as underweight (7.0%), normal (48.2%), overweight (29.9%), and obese (14.8%). Perceived weight was measured by asking participants, "Do you consider yourself to be overweight?" Responses were then dichotomized as accurate or inaccurate. Stigmatization was constructed from 16 statements regarding perceived treatment due to weight status. Males and females differed in their perceptions of their weights. More than 20% of the participants had inaccurate perceptions of their weights, with the majority of the inaccurate participants (82.5%) perceiving their weight status lower than their actual weight status. More overweight or obese males than overweight or obese females did not perceive themselves as overweight (60.3% vs 28.3%, respectively, P<.001). While male and female perceptions of weight-based stigmatization were not statistically different (P=.071), participants who accurately perceived themselves to be overweight had higher perceived weight-based stigma scores than inaccurate participants who were overweight (P=.001). Males and females who were inaccurate were less likely to perceive weight-based stigmatization.
KW - African American
KW - Misperception of weight
KW - Sex differences
KW - Weight bias
KW - Weight-based stigmatization
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=80053180615&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=80053180615&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:80053180615
SN - 1049-510X
VL - 20
SP - S1196-S1200
JO - Ethnicity and Disease
JF - Ethnicity and Disease
IS - 1 SUPPL.1
ER -