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Considering BMI, Body Image and Desired Weight Change for Suitable Obesity Management Options

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 September 2020

Débora Godoy-Izquierdo Open the ORCID record for Débora Godoy-Izquierdo [Opens in a new window] ,
Juan González-Hernández Open the ORCID record for Juan González-Hernández [Opens in a new window] ,
Raquel Lara Open the ORCID record for Raquel Lara [Opens in a new window] ,
Alejandra Rodríguez-Tadeo Open the ORCID record for Alejandra Rodríguez-Tadeo [Opens in a new window] ,
María J. Ramírez Open the ORCID record for María J. Ramírez [Opens in a new window] ,
Estefanía Navarrón Open the ORCID record for Estefanía Navarrón [Opens in a new window] ,
Adelaida Ogallar-Blanco Open the ORCID record for Adelaida Ogallar-Blanco [Opens in a new window] ,
Clara López-Mora Open the ORCID record for Clara López-Mora [Opens in a new window]  and
Félix Arbinaga Open the ORCID record for Félix Arbinaga [Opens in a new window]
Débora Godoy-Izquierdo*
Affiliation:
Universidad de Granada (Spain)
Juan González-Hernández
Affiliation:
Universidad de Granada (Spain)
Raquel Lara
Affiliation:
Universidad de Granada (Spain)
Alejandra Rodríguez-Tadeo
Affiliation:
Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez (Mexico)
María J. Ramírez
Affiliation:
Universidad de Granada (Spain)
Estefanía Navarrón
Affiliation:
Universidad de Granada (Spain)
Adelaida Ogallar-Blanco
Affiliation:
Universidad de Granada (Spain)
Clara López-Mora
Affiliation:
Universidad de Granada (Spain)
Félix Arbinaga
Affiliation:
Universidad de Huelva (Spain)
*
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Débora Godoy-Izquierdo. Universidad de Granada. Facultad de Psicología. Departamento de Personalidad, Evaluación y Tratamiento Psicológico. Grupo de Investigación Psicología de la Salud y Medicina Conductual (CTS–267). Campus Universitario de Cartuja, 18071 Granada (Spain). E-mail: deborag@ugr.es Phone: +34–958242331.
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Abstract

With prevalence of obesity increasing worldwide, understanding body image in individuals with excessive weight is important, as unawareness of weight excess can prevent weight loss attempts. We explored the associations among measured and self-reported body mass index (BMI), body image and body satisfaction among Spanish females and males with overweight or obesity, with a special focus in discriminating individuals who are and are not satisfied with their body and wish or not to change their appearance. Just unifying all individuals with excessive weight may lead to uncover or deny different realities and to develop unfitted clinical management options. Updating findings for the Spanish population, we found that most participants correctly estimated their weight, but 3 in 10 underestimated it. Similarly, their body images corresponded to adults with overweight or obesity who desired to be thinner, but in average they reported a perceived body just slightly overweight and a moderate satisfaction with their body. Complementing the existing evidence, BMI and sex-gender interacted for influencing body weight estimation and desired weight change. In addition, three different subgroups were found for desired change of weight and size, depending on their BMI and body satisfaction. Discovering and considering different subjective realities and corporeal experiences among individuals with weight excess will help professionals to develop appropriate therapeutic interventions. Thus, the personal experiences that individuals have with obesity, instead of obesity itself, should be considered for disentangling management efforts.

Keywords

body imagebody satisfactionobesityoverweightweight management.
Type
Research Article
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 23 , 2020 , e35
Copyright
© Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos de Madrid 2020

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Footnotes

We are grateful to all the participants and assistants who made this study possible.

Conflicts of interest: None.

This research was partially supported with the financial aid conceded to the “Psicología de la Salud/Medicina Conductual” Research Group (CTS–267) and “Psicología del Ejercicio, el Deporte y la Salud” Research Group (CTS–980) by the Junta de Andalucía (Spain), as well as to the Research Project “Quality of life and body image in adults with obesity” (PIVA Projects, Ref. ICB2) by the Universidad Autónoma Ciudad Juárez (Mexico).

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