Self-perception of body image in relation to BMI among migrants and non-migrants in a community of indigenous Maya from Yucatan, Mexico

Introduction: Little is known about the role of an ideal body image as a cultural concept related to obesity among indigenous Mexican populations. To understand whether culturally constructed views of body image are relevant to objective measures of obesity status, this study compares migration experience to body figures, weight status, and BMI.

Methods: Indigenous participants from Tunkás, Yucatan and their satellite communities in California (n=490) were recruited to complete a questionnaire. Participants self-reported their weight and height and indicated their current body shape from figures ranging from slim (1) to overweight/obese (9). A two- and three-way ANOVA was performed with least square means for covariate adjustment. We then examined differences between self-perceived body figures, weight, and their interactions with BMI by migration experience (categorized as no migration; domestic migration; and international migration).

Results: Participants who migrated either domestically or internationally tended to self-report greater overweight/obesity status compared to participants with no migration history. Using BMI as a comparison, all participants under-reported their body figures and weight status. No significant differences were observed between BMI and self-perceptions of body image among those individuals who reported no migration history and individuals with international migration experience. However, participants with no migration history reported a higher weight compared to those with domestic migration experience.

Conclusion: Findings suggest a more complex relationship between perceptions body image and objective measures of weight status. In particular, further research is needed to explore how migration influences views of body shapes to address obesity risk in this context.