Obesity, Body Image and Weight Loss Practices of Three Generation Women

Abstract

Aim: This study was conducted to predict three generation of women’s obesity status and their body image perception besides weight loss practices. Subjects and Methods: Sixty two women (18-33 years), their mothers (38-64 years) and grandmothers (56-91 years) who live in different houses in Ankara participated in this study. All participant’s descriptive characteristics (age, marriage status, living with whom etc), practice frequency and type of slimming dietand other weight loss practices (the use of laxative agents, diet pills, herbal teas etc.) were determined by means of a self-administered questionnaire. By use of anthropometric measurements, body mass index (BMI) and waist-hip ratio were calculated by using the anthropometrical measurements (body weight, height, waist, hip circumferences) Results: Most of the grandmothers (37.7%), mothers (50.0%) and daughters (54.8%) were trying to lose weight by practicing slimming diets. While most of the grandmothers (56.5%) were getting the list from their doctor’s; mothers and daughters (38.7%; 38.2%) used the lists from newspapers, journals and magazines (p>0.05). Among the generation groups, it was observed that the lower age of starting diet practices was decreased (respectively 35; 23; 12 yrs) while generations were young. When the participants’ weight loss practices were asked it was found that as most of the grandmothers and mothers were consuming herbal teas (respectively 75.0%; 57.6%),most of the daughters (33.3%) were using laxatives. According to the BMI classification it was stated that most of the grandmothers and mothers (31.2%; 45.2%) took part in the group of “overweight” and the girls (72.6%) took part in the group of “normal” (p<001). As the grandmothers in normal group of BMI considered their current body shape to be under (33.3%) and over (6.7%) than their ideal weight, mothers in normal group of BMI considered themselves under (17.6%) and over weight (29.4%). In the classification of BMI, daughters took part in normal category, considered themselves as overweight (28.9%) and underweight (15.6%). Conclusion: The comparison of obesity status, body image perception and the determination of weight loss practices among generations could play an important role in the future programs of nutritional surveillance.