Overweight and obese midlife women in Israel: cultural differences in perceived weight status

• Published in: International journal of public health Vol. 61; no. 1; pp. 39 - 47
• Main Authors: Elran-Barak, Roni, Blumstein, Tzvia, Boyko, Valentina, Hadar, Dana, Farhi, Adel, Lerner-Geva, Liat, Benyamini, Yael
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.01.2016; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Culture; Environmental Health; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle age; Obesity; Occupational Medicine/Industrial Medicine; Original Article; Perceptions; Public Health; Women; Israel; Obesity; Ethnicity; Midlife; Culture; Weight loss; Weight misperception
• ISSN: 1661-8556; 1661-8564
• DOI: 10.1007/s00038-015-0753-0

Objectives To examine cultural differences in Weight status misperception (WSMP) and identify associations between weight perception and weight control efforts among overweight/obese midlife women in Israel. Methods Data from the nationally representative Women’s-Health-in-Midlife-National-Study were used. Participants included overweight (25 ≤ BMI < 30) and obese (BMI ≥ 30) midlife women (45–64 years) from three cultural groups: Long-Term Jewish Residents (LTJR), Immigrants from the former USSR, and Arabs. Interviews included measures of BMI, weight perception, lifestyle, and socio-demographics. Results Most overweight/obese women (88 %) perceived their weight status correctly. No significant differences were found in overall WSMP rates across cultural groups. Overweight women of Arab origin were significantly more likely ( p  < 0.001) to perceive their weight as “about right” relative to LTJR and Immigrants. WSMP was associated with several unhealthy eating patterns [eating red meat (OR = 2.1, 95 % CI = 1.13–3.97), white bread (OR = 2.4, 95 % CI = 1.26–4.58)] and with more perceived barriers to exercising (OR = 1.8, 95 % CI = 1.00–3.42). Conclusions Health care providers are encouraged to pay attention to overweight/obese women who misperceive their weight status. These women are more likely to consume unhealthy foods and to be at higher risks of suffering from medical complications associated with obesity.