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Relation between lifestyle factors and anti‐fat attitudes in college students
Author(s) -
Kennedy Tay,
Felts Emily,
Parker Stephany,
Topham Glade
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.22.1_supplement.1097.6
Subject(s) - overweight , body mass index , obesity , demography , psychology , medicine , clinical psychology , sociology
Overweight individuals are affected by prejudice. This study examined antifat bias and body image dissatisfaction and their relation to body mass index (BMI) among college students. Height and weight were measured in 187 (78% female) college students between the ages 18–24. Antifat bias was assessed using Crandall's antifat attitudes (AFA) questionnaire and body dissatisfaction was assessed using Davison and McCabe's questionnaire. Differences between genders were found for all three subscales of the AFA questionnaire: females were found to have a higher Fear of Fat than males (p=.000), males possessed a higher level of Dislike for overweight individuals (p=.004), and males attribute overweight to a Lack of Willpower more readily than did females (p=.010). BMI and the Fear of Fat were positively correlated even after controlling for gender (R=.252, p=.001) and there was a significant difference among BMI groups (BMI<19, BMI 19 to 25, BMI>25) in Fear of Fat scores (p=.005). A positive relationship between total AFA scores and total Body Image scores (R=.457, p=.000) was discovered and supports the view that as one's opinion about their own appearance and/or weight becomes more positive, their attitude toward overweight and obese people becomes more negative. Males appear to be more extreme in their attitudes toward overweight individuals.