Abstract
Given the high prevalence of overweight and obesity in the U.S., identifying behaviors that aid or hinder weight control efforts continues to be a research priority. Body weight monitoring is a technique used in many popular weight management programs. However, how weight monitoring-particularly self-weighing behavior-relates to psychological constructs like body image is poorly understood. Participants included 268 undergraduates (190 women, 78 men) at a midwestern university who completed questionnaires about self-weighing behavior and body image (Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire; Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire: Weight and Shape Concern subscales). Among women, more frequent self-weighing was associated with greater Appearance Orientation, Overweight Preoccupation, and Shape Concern. Among men, more frequent self-weighing was associated with greater Body Areas Satisfaction, Health and Fitness Orientation, and positive Health Evaluation. Results suggest that self-weighing is a fairly common behavior, but its relationship with body image is complex and gender-specific.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 551-554 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Body Image |
Volume | 9 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Sep 2012 |
Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This research was supported in part by a SEED grant from the College of Health Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee awarded to L. Klos.
Keywords
- Body image
- Body weight monitoring
- Cross-sectional study
- Descriptive research
- Self-weighing