Body dissatisfaction among White and African American male and female college students

While African Americans and White males tended to have similar perceptions that there remains sociocultural influences in African American females regarding acceptance of a large body size, this study assessed body size perceptions of a convenience sample of college students.

Abstract

Body size perception has been shown to be highly influenced by cultural factors including race. This study assessed body size perceptions of a convenience sample of college students (N=630). Included in a paper-and-pencil survey were current height and weight (body mass index (BMI)=wt [kg]/ht(2) [m]), perceived BMI, desired MI and perceptions of BMIs desired by others. Also assessed were perceptions of underweight, acceptable weight and overweight/obesity. African American females were found to have a higher current BMI than Whites (P< or =.001), higher desired BMI (P< or =.001) and higher BMI perceived to be desired by others (P< or =.001). African American and White males did not differ on any of these measures. Most (83%) underweight (BMI<19) African American females perceived themselves as underweight while only about one-half of underweight (56%) White females perceived themselves as underweight. Almost half (43%) of White females and about a fourth (27%) of African American females of acceptable BMI range (BMI=19-25) desired to be in the underweight range. Of those who were overweight (BMI=25-30), 20% of the Whites and only 3.0% of the African Americans chose an underweight silhouette as being desired. While African Americans and White males tended to have similar perceptions that there remains sociocultural influences in African American females regarding acceptance of a large body size.