Body image in obese adults

Abstract

SYNOPSIS Data were gathered on 38 obese women and 16 obese men attending a weight-reduction programme and on an equal number of normal weight controls, regarding accuracy of perception of body width in 4 regions, as well as attitudes towards body size. Obese subjects, particularly women, tended to overestimate body width and to dislike their bodies, but neither of these factors predicted success in losing weight. Age of onset of obesity was not related to degree of adult obesity or to accuracy of estimation of body width.