Ethnic differences in perceptions of body size in middle-aged European, Maori and Pacific People living in New Zealand

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare perceptions of body size in European, Maori and Paci®c Islands people with measured body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio and change in BMI since age 21 y. Socio-demographic factors that in¯uenced perceptions of body size were also investigated. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. METHODS: Participants were 5554 workers, aged ! 40 y, recruited from companies in New Zealand during 1988 ± 1990. RESULTS: Prevalences of BMI b 25 kgam 2 were: Europeans, 64.7% men, 47.2% women; Maori, 93.2% men, 80.6% women; and Paci®c Islanders, 94.1% men, 92.9% women. Similarly, prevalences of BMI b 30 kgam 2 were: Europeans, 14.4% men, 14.6% women; Maori, 55.0% men, 41.9% women; and Paci®c Islanders, 55.1% men, 71.7% women. At each perception of body size category, Maori and Paci®c Islands men and women had a higher BMI than European men and women, respectively. BMI increased with increasing perception of body size in all gender and ethnic groups. Since age 21, increases in BMI were highest in Paci®c Islands people and increased with increasing perceptions of body size category in all ethnic and gender groups. BMI adjusted odds (95% CI) of being in a lower perception category for body size were 1.70 (1.38 ± 2.12) in Maori and 8.99 (7.30 ± 11.09) in Paci®c people compared to Europeans, 1.27 (1.13 ± 1.42) times higher for people with no tertiary education, 1.41 (1.25 ± 1.59) times higher in people with low socioeconomic status, and 0.94 (0.92 ± 0.95) for change in BMI since age 21. CONCLUSION: Nutritional programs aimed at reducing levels of obesity should be ethnic-speci®c, addressing food and health in the context of their culture, and also take into account the socioeconomic status of the group. On the population level, obesity reduction programs may be more bene®cial if they are aimed at the maintenance of weight at age 21.

Short-term repeatability of a food frequency questionnaire in New Zealand children aged 1–14 y

“…Most previous studies in New Zealand have only sampled adult Europeans (Birkbeck, 1979;Scragg et al, 1991), although a recent national survey reported frequencies of consumption of various foods in Maori and non-Maori adults, and reported median nutrient intakes by gender and ethnicity (Russell et al, 1999). Only one other study has compared the food and nutrient intakes of Pacific adults with Maori and Europeans in New Zealand (Metcalf et al, 1998), and Ferguson et al (1995) examined these ethnic differences for intakes of plant foods in this population. Bell et al (1999) examined the dietary intakes of adult Samoans from New Zealand church communities.…”

Perceptions of healthy and desirable body size in urban Senegalese women

“…12,13 In Western societies, thinness is associated with self-control, elegance, youthfulness and attractiveness, and women of higher socioeconomic groups are less likely to be obese. 9 The situation in some developing countries appears to be the opposite, and some authors 12,14,15 conclude that obesity is admired and seen as sexually desirable, and a symbol of social success and wealth in countries where economic resources are scarce.…”

“…Studies comparing ethnic differences in perception of body size have contrasted Caucasian women with Polynesians, 20 Afro-Americans 21 and Maori/Tongans. 9 All these studies have clearly shown that Caucasian women prefer slimmer body sizes, they often overestimate their current body size, their cultural ideal is thinness and more are dissatisfied with their body size compared with women from the other ethnic groups investigated. Although studies in Afro-Americans largely follow this trend, there is recent evidence that this may be changing.…”

“…Several studies have shown that the perception of ideal body size varies with culture, ethnicity, educational level and socioeconomic group [7][8][9][10][11] and can influence the development of obesity. 12,13 In Western societies, thinness is associated with self-control, elegance, youthfulness and attractiveness, and women of higher socioeconomic groups are less likely to be obese.…”

Obesity among Adult Bahraini Population: Impact of Physical Activity and Educational Level

“…[6][7][8][9] There is a lot of data on the prevalence rates of obesity in the general population in Bahrain and other Arabian Peninsula states, [10][11][12] where the prevalence rate among adults is among the highest in the world. 13,14 Diabetes rates are increasing even more quickly in Arab countries.…”