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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Karin Ann Mack, PhD, NCCDPHP/DACH/BSB, Centers for Disease Control, 4770 Buford Hwy NE K66, Atlanta, GA 30341, 770-488-2500, kim9@cdc.gov, Lynda A. Anderson, PhD, CDC/NCCDPHP/DACH/OD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy Ne K45, Atlanta, GA 30341, and Deborah Holtzman, PhD, Division of Adult and Community Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy NE, Mailstop K-66, Atlanta, GA 30341.
Background: The increase in obesity and pop-culture images of the "ideal" body for women present a major public health challenge. These themes are brought together by examining current and desired weight of women through a detailed sociodemographic analysis. Methods: Data come from the 2000 BRFSS, a state-specific population-based, random telephone survey. Women aged ³18 years who self-reported as Hispanic, black or white were included (n=98,826). Analyses consider current BMI (derived from reported height/weight), desired BMI (calculated with reported height/desired weight), and whether the woman was actively trying to lose weight. Sociodemographic variables include race/ethnicity, age, education, smoking status, and health status. Data were weighted and age adjusted. Results(95% CIs in parentheses): Regardless of race, most women wanted to weigh less than their current weight and just under half were actively trying to lose weight. Of those in the normal BMI category, 31.3% (30.5-32.1) of white, 27.6% (24.6-30.5) of Hispanic and 19.9% (17.4-22.4) of black women were still actively trying to lose weight. Of those in the obese BMI category, 8.2% (7.5-9.0) of white, 19.2% (14.9-23.5) of Hispanic, and 22.0% (19.6-24.4) of black women reported a desired weight that would keep them in the obese category. This finding was generally associated with higher BMI, lower education, and older age. Conclusions: Results further hone our understanding of sociodemographic differences among women related to body size preferences. For example, we found sub-population differences in desired weight ideals that may not enhance health and may require attention by the public health community.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Women's Health, Disease Prevention
Related Web page: www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/brfss
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.