Cohen Emmanuel - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Cohen Emmanuel

Research paper thumbnail of Development and validation of the body shape scale (BOSHAS) for assessing body shape perception in African populations

BMC Public Health, 2020

Background As a consequence of ‘Western’ acculturation, eating disorders and body image disturban... more Background As a consequence of ‘Western’ acculturation, eating disorders and body image disturbances, such as fatness phobia and body dysmorphic disorders towards musculature and body shape, are emerging in Africa, with young people the most affected. It is therefore important to accurately assess perceptions of body shape. However, the existing body image assessment scales lack sufficient accuracy and validity testing to compare body shape perception across different African populations. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate the Body Shape Scale (BOSHAS) to evaluate body shape perceptions related body image disorders in African populations. Methods To develop the BOSHAS, anthropometric measures of 80 Cameroonians and 81 Senegalese (both sexes included; 40.1% females overall) were taken for three body shape criteria: somatotype components, body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio. Subjects were selected to cover a wide variability in body shape and were photograp...

Research paper thumbnail of Relationships Between Maternal Factors and Weight Loss Attempts Among Urban Male and Female Adolescents Living in Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa

Journal of Adolescent Health, 2020

Research paper thumbnail of ‘I’d say I’m fat, I’m not obese’: obesity normalisation in urban-poor South Africa

Public Health Nutrition

Objective: In the past decade, South Africa’s obesity epidemic has increased in both children and... more Objective: In the past decade, South Africa’s obesity epidemic has increased in both children and adults, and being overweight is becoming the norm. Several contributing factors lead to the normalisation of obesity. One of these is the culturally entrenched likeness of larger body sizes or shapes within a milieu of easily accessible unhealthy food and beverages. This qualitative study advances knowledge about the influence of socio-cultural norms and obesogenic environments on weight under estimation and ‘obesity normalisation’ amongst black South Africans living in an urban setting. Design: A theory-based qualitative study used focus group discussions (FGDs) with a semi-structured interview guide. FGDs were transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically using a constant comparison method. Setting: Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa, is a setting which has undergone rapid urbanisation and nutrition transition with ubiquitous availability of processed and fast-foods. Participants: Ad...

Research paper thumbnail of Height and body-mass index trajectories of school-aged children and adolescents from 1985 to 2019 in 200 countries and territories: a pooled analysis of 2181 population-based studies with 65 million participants

Research paper thumbnail of Maternal perspectives on infant feeding practices in Soweto, South Africa

Public Health Nutrition, 2020

Objective:To (i) describe the infant feeding practices of South African women living in Soweto an... more Objective:To (i) describe the infant feeding practices of South African women living in Soweto and (ii) understand from the mothers’ perspective what influences feeding practices.Design:Semi-structured focus group discussions (FGD) and in-depth interviews (IDI) were conducted, and data were analysed using thematic analysis.Setting:Soweto, South Africa.Participants:Nineteen mothers were stratified into three FGD according to their baby’s age as follows: 0–6-month-olds, 7–14-month-olds and 15–24-month-olds. Four mothers from each FGD then attended an IDI.Results:Although mothers understood that breast-feeding was beneficial, they reported short durations of exclusive breast-feeding. The diversity and quality of weaning foods were low, and ‘junk’ food items were commonly given. Infants were fed using bottles or spoons and feeding commonly occurred separately to family meal times. Feeding practices were influenced by mothers’ beliefs that what babies eat is important for their health an...

Research paper thumbnail of ‘I’d say I’m fat, I’m not obese’: obesity normalisation in urban-poor South Africa

Public Health Nutrition, 2020

Objective:In the past decade, South Africa’s obesity epidemic has increased in both children and ... more Objective:In the past decade, South Africa’s obesity epidemic has increased in both children and adults, and being overweight is becoming the norm. Several contributing factors lead to the normalisation of obesity. One of these is the culturally entrenched likeness of larger body sizes or shapes within a milieu of easily accessible unhealthy food and beverages. This qualitative study advances knowledge about the influence of socio-cultural norms and obesogenic environments on weight under estimation and ‘obesity normalisation’ amongst black South Africans living in an urban setting.Design:A theory-based qualitative study used focus group discussions (FGDs) with a semi-structured interview guide. FGDs were transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically using a constant comparison method.Setting:Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa, is a setting which has undergone rapid urbanisation and nutrition transition with ubiquitous availability of processed and fast-foods.Participants:Adults ol...

Research paper thumbnail of Environmental, Social, and Structural Constraints for Health Behavior: Perceptions of Young Urban Black Women During the Preconception Period—A Healthy Life Trajectories Initiative

Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 2019

Research paper thumbnail of Table_S1 – Supplemental material for Material and Relational Difficulties: The Impact of the Household Environment on the Emotional Well-Being of Young Black Women Living in Soweto, South Africa

Supplemental material, Table_S1 for Material and Relational Difficulties: The Impact of the House... more Supplemental material, Table_S1 for Material and Relational Difficulties: The Impact of the Household Environment on the Emotional Well-Being of Young Black Women Living in Soweto, South Africa by Emmanuel Cohen, Lisa J Ware, Alessandra Prioreschi, Catherine Draper, Edna Bosire, Stephen J Lye and Shane A Norris in Journal of Family Issues

Research paper thumbnail of Nutrition Transition and Biocultural Determinants of Obesity among Cameroonian Migrants in Urban Cameroon and France

International journal of environmental research and public health, Jun 29, 2017

Native of rural West Cameroon, the Bamiléké population is traditionally predisposed to obesity. B... more Native of rural West Cameroon, the Bamiléké population is traditionally predisposed to obesity. Bamiléké who migrated to urban areas additionally experience the nutrition transition. We investigated the biocultural determinants of obesity in Bamiléké who migrated to urban Cameroon (Yaoundé), or urban France (Paris). We conducted qualitative interviews (n = 36; 18 men) and a quantitative survey (n = 627; 266 men) of adults using two-stage sampling strategy, to determine the association of dietary intake, physical activity and body weight norms with obesity of Bamiléké populations in these three socio-ecological areas (rural Cameroon: n = 258; urban Cameroon: n = 319; urban France: n = 50). The Bamiléké valued overweight and traditional energy-dense diets in rural and urban Cameroon. Physical activity levels were lower, consumption of processed energy-dense food was frequent and obesity levels higher in new migrants living in urban Cameroon and France. Female sex, age, duration of res...

Research paper thumbnail of The Social Construction of Body in an Urbanization Context in Senegal

Research paper thumbnail of Height and body-mass index trajectories of school-aged children and adolescents from 1985 to 2019 in 200 countries and territories: a pooled analysis of 2181 population-based studies with 65 million participants

The Lancet, 2020

Rodriguez-Martinez, Andrea et al. NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC) Height and body-mass i... more Rodriguez-Martinez, Andrea et al. NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC) Height and body-mass index trajectories of school-aged children and adolescents from 1985 to 2019 in 200 countries and territories: a pooled analysis of 2181 population-based studies with 65 million participants The Lancet, Volume 396, Issue 10261, 1511 - 1524

Research paper thumbnail of Body mass index and associated lifestyle and eating behaviours of female students at a South African university

South African Journal of Clinical Nutrition

Research paper thumbnail of The relevance of the side-view in body image scales for public health: an example from two African populations

BMC public health, Jan 24, 2015

Body size scales are a common method for diagnosing body image disturbances and assessing the cul... more Body size scales are a common method for diagnosing body image disturbances and assessing the cultural valorisation of stoutness, a phenomenon that plays a role in the development of overweight, especially among African populations. Traditionally, body size scales present a front view. In this study, we evaluated a complementary model of representing body shape: the side view of body outlines. In particular, we examined the association between the side-view and a set of bio-anthropometric indices in men and women. To cover the inter-ethnic variability in the Niger-Congo area, we selected a balanced sex-ratio sample of 80 Cameroonians and 81 Senegalese. Individuals wearing close-fitting clothes were photographed from the front-and side-view, and measured following a bio-anthropometric protocol synthesizing body shape variation: Body Mass Index, percentage body fat, somatotype profile, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, mean blood pressure and glycaemia. The shape of each front ...

Research paper thumbnail of Development of a new body image assessment scale in urban Cameroon: an anthropological approach

Ethnicity & disease, 2011

Develop and validate body image scales (BIS) presenting real human bodies adapted to the macrosco... more Develop and validate body image scales (BIS) presenting real human bodies adapted to the macroscopic phenotype of urban Cameroonian populations. Quantitative and qualitative analysis. Yaoundé, capital city of Cameroon. Four samples with balanced sex-ratio: the first (n=16) aged 18 to 65 years (qualitative study), the second (n=30) aged 25 to 40 years (photo database), the third (n=47) and fourth (n=181), > or =18 years (validation study). Construct validity, test retest reliability, concurrent and convergent validity of BIS. Body image scales present six Cameroonians of each sex arranged according to main body mass index (BMI) categories: underweight (<18.5 kg/m2), normal (18.5-24.9 kg/m2), overweight (25-29.9 kg/m2), obesity class I (30-34.9 kg/m2), obesity class II (35-39.9 kg/m2), and obesity class III (> or =40 kg/m2). Test-retest reliability correlations for current body size (CBS), desired body size and current desirable discrepancy (body self-satisfaction index) on B...

Research paper thumbnail of La construction sociale du corps chez les sénégalais dans un contexte de transition des modes de vie

Anthropologie, 2012

Dans un contexte de transition des modes de vie au Senegal, les manieres d�'apprehender la sa... more Dans un contexte de transition des modes de vie au Senegal, les manieres d�'apprehender la sante, l�'alimentation et l�'esthetisme sont en pleine mutation. Elles entrainent une construction sociale du corps originale au carrefour d'influences multiples qu�fil est important d�fanalyser pour en evaluer l'impact sur la sante dans un contexte d�'emergence de l'obesite et de mondialisation des stigmas modernes lies a l�fapparence. En considerant trois criteres, l age: [20-25] et . 45 ans, le sexe et le niveau scolaire, 24 entretiens semi directifs ont ete conduits a Dakar et 16 a Gandiaye, communaute rurale du Sine presentant un pourcentage non negligeable de Wolof. Nous observons un processus de rationalisation de la mort et de la maladie, une desacralisation de la nourriture et une �ahedonisation�â de la sexualite. Un rapport moderne au corps emergent, tourne vers la maitrise et la recherche de plaisir, remet en question la valorisation de l�fembonpoint mais...

Research paper thumbnail of Development and Validation of the Body Size Scale for Assessing Body Weight Perception in African Populations

Research paper thumbnail of Development and validation of the body shape scale (BOSHAS) for assessing body shape perception in African populations

BMC Public Health, 2020

Background As a consequence of ‘Western’ acculturation, eating disorders and body image disturban... more Background As a consequence of ‘Western’ acculturation, eating disorders and body image disturbances, such as fatness phobia and body dysmorphic disorders towards musculature and body shape, are emerging in Africa, with young people the most affected. It is therefore important to accurately assess perceptions of body shape. However, the existing body image assessment scales lack sufficient accuracy and validity testing to compare body shape perception across different African populations. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate the Body Shape Scale (BOSHAS) to evaluate body shape perceptions related body image disorders in African populations. Methods To develop the BOSHAS, anthropometric measures of 80 Cameroonians and 81 Senegalese (both sexes included; 40.1% females overall) were taken for three body shape criteria: somatotype components, body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio. Subjects were selected to cover a wide variability in body shape and were photograp...

Research paper thumbnail of Relationships Between Maternal Factors and Weight Loss Attempts Among Urban Male and Female Adolescents Living in Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa

Journal of Adolescent Health, 2020

Research paper thumbnail of ‘I’d say I’m fat, I’m not obese’: obesity normalisation in urban-poor South Africa

Public Health Nutrition

Objective: In the past decade, South Africa’s obesity epidemic has increased in both children and... more Objective: In the past decade, South Africa’s obesity epidemic has increased in both children and adults, and being overweight is becoming the norm. Several contributing factors lead to the normalisation of obesity. One of these is the culturally entrenched likeness of larger body sizes or shapes within a milieu of easily accessible unhealthy food and beverages. This qualitative study advances knowledge about the influence of socio-cultural norms and obesogenic environments on weight under estimation and ‘obesity normalisation’ amongst black South Africans living in an urban setting. Design: A theory-based qualitative study used focus group discussions (FGDs) with a semi-structured interview guide. FGDs were transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically using a constant comparison method. Setting: Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa, is a setting which has undergone rapid urbanisation and nutrition transition with ubiquitous availability of processed and fast-foods. Participants: Ad...

Research paper thumbnail of Height and body-mass index trajectories of school-aged children and adolescents from 1985 to 2019 in 200 countries and territories: a pooled analysis of 2181 population-based studies with 65 million participants

Research paper thumbnail of Maternal perspectives on infant feeding practices in Soweto, South Africa

Public Health Nutrition, 2020

Objective:To (i) describe the infant feeding practices of South African women living in Soweto an... more Objective:To (i) describe the infant feeding practices of South African women living in Soweto and (ii) understand from the mothers’ perspective what influences feeding practices.Design:Semi-structured focus group discussions (FGD) and in-depth interviews (IDI) were conducted, and data were analysed using thematic analysis.Setting:Soweto, South Africa.Participants:Nineteen mothers were stratified into three FGD according to their baby’s age as follows: 0–6-month-olds, 7–14-month-olds and 15–24-month-olds. Four mothers from each FGD then attended an IDI.Results:Although mothers understood that breast-feeding was beneficial, they reported short durations of exclusive breast-feeding. The diversity and quality of weaning foods were low, and ‘junk’ food items were commonly given. Infants were fed using bottles or spoons and feeding commonly occurred separately to family meal times. Feeding practices were influenced by mothers’ beliefs that what babies eat is important for their health an...

Research paper thumbnail of ‘I’d say I’m fat, I’m not obese’: obesity normalisation in urban-poor South Africa

Public Health Nutrition, 2020

Objective:In the past decade, South Africa’s obesity epidemic has increased in both children and ... more Objective:In the past decade, South Africa’s obesity epidemic has increased in both children and adults, and being overweight is becoming the norm. Several contributing factors lead to the normalisation of obesity. One of these is the culturally entrenched likeness of larger body sizes or shapes within a milieu of easily accessible unhealthy food and beverages. This qualitative study advances knowledge about the influence of socio-cultural norms and obesogenic environments on weight under estimation and ‘obesity normalisation’ amongst black South Africans living in an urban setting.Design:A theory-based qualitative study used focus group discussions (FGDs) with a semi-structured interview guide. FGDs were transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically using a constant comparison method.Setting:Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa, is a setting which has undergone rapid urbanisation and nutrition transition with ubiquitous availability of processed and fast-foods.Participants:Adults ol...

Research paper thumbnail of Environmental, Social, and Structural Constraints for Health Behavior: Perceptions of Young Urban Black Women During the Preconception Period—A Healthy Life Trajectories Initiative

Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 2019

Research paper thumbnail of Table_S1 – Supplemental material for Material and Relational Difficulties: The Impact of the Household Environment on the Emotional Well-Being of Young Black Women Living in Soweto, South Africa

Supplemental material, Table_S1 for Material and Relational Difficulties: The Impact of the House... more Supplemental material, Table_S1 for Material and Relational Difficulties: The Impact of the Household Environment on the Emotional Well-Being of Young Black Women Living in Soweto, South Africa by Emmanuel Cohen, Lisa J Ware, Alessandra Prioreschi, Catherine Draper, Edna Bosire, Stephen J Lye and Shane A Norris in Journal of Family Issues

Research paper thumbnail of Nutrition Transition and Biocultural Determinants of Obesity among Cameroonian Migrants in Urban Cameroon and France

International journal of environmental research and public health, Jun 29, 2017

Native of rural West Cameroon, the Bamiléké population is traditionally predisposed to obesity. B... more Native of rural West Cameroon, the Bamiléké population is traditionally predisposed to obesity. Bamiléké who migrated to urban areas additionally experience the nutrition transition. We investigated the biocultural determinants of obesity in Bamiléké who migrated to urban Cameroon (Yaoundé), or urban France (Paris). We conducted qualitative interviews (n = 36; 18 men) and a quantitative survey (n = 627; 266 men) of adults using two-stage sampling strategy, to determine the association of dietary intake, physical activity and body weight norms with obesity of Bamiléké populations in these three socio-ecological areas (rural Cameroon: n = 258; urban Cameroon: n = 319; urban France: n = 50). The Bamiléké valued overweight and traditional energy-dense diets in rural and urban Cameroon. Physical activity levels were lower, consumption of processed energy-dense food was frequent and obesity levels higher in new migrants living in urban Cameroon and France. Female sex, age, duration of res...

Research paper thumbnail of The Social Construction of Body in an Urbanization Context in Senegal

Research paper thumbnail of Height and body-mass index trajectories of school-aged children and adolescents from 1985 to 2019 in 200 countries and territories: a pooled analysis of 2181 population-based studies with 65 million participants

The Lancet, 2020

Rodriguez-Martinez, Andrea et al. NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC) Height and body-mass i... more Rodriguez-Martinez, Andrea et al. NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC) Height and body-mass index trajectories of school-aged children and adolescents from 1985 to 2019 in 200 countries and territories: a pooled analysis of 2181 population-based studies with 65 million participants The Lancet, Volume 396, Issue 10261, 1511 - 1524

Research paper thumbnail of Body mass index and associated lifestyle and eating behaviours of female students at a South African university

South African Journal of Clinical Nutrition

Research paper thumbnail of The relevance of the side-view in body image scales for public health: an example from two African populations

BMC public health, Jan 24, 2015

Body size scales are a common method for diagnosing body image disturbances and assessing the cul... more Body size scales are a common method for diagnosing body image disturbances and assessing the cultural valorisation of stoutness, a phenomenon that plays a role in the development of overweight, especially among African populations. Traditionally, body size scales present a front view. In this study, we evaluated a complementary model of representing body shape: the side view of body outlines. In particular, we examined the association between the side-view and a set of bio-anthropometric indices in men and women. To cover the inter-ethnic variability in the Niger-Congo area, we selected a balanced sex-ratio sample of 80 Cameroonians and 81 Senegalese. Individuals wearing close-fitting clothes were photographed from the front-and side-view, and measured following a bio-anthropometric protocol synthesizing body shape variation: Body Mass Index, percentage body fat, somatotype profile, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, mean blood pressure and glycaemia. The shape of each front ...

Research paper thumbnail of Development of a new body image assessment scale in urban Cameroon: an anthropological approach

Ethnicity & disease, 2011

Develop and validate body image scales (BIS) presenting real human bodies adapted to the macrosco... more Develop and validate body image scales (BIS) presenting real human bodies adapted to the macroscopic phenotype of urban Cameroonian populations. Quantitative and qualitative analysis. Yaoundé, capital city of Cameroon. Four samples with balanced sex-ratio: the first (n=16) aged 18 to 65 years (qualitative study), the second (n=30) aged 25 to 40 years (photo database), the third (n=47) and fourth (n=181), > or =18 years (validation study). Construct validity, test retest reliability, concurrent and convergent validity of BIS. Body image scales present six Cameroonians of each sex arranged according to main body mass index (BMI) categories: underweight (<18.5 kg/m2), normal (18.5-24.9 kg/m2), overweight (25-29.9 kg/m2), obesity class I (30-34.9 kg/m2), obesity class II (35-39.9 kg/m2), and obesity class III (> or =40 kg/m2). Test-retest reliability correlations for current body size (CBS), desired body size and current desirable discrepancy (body self-satisfaction index) on B...

Research paper thumbnail of La construction sociale du corps chez les sénégalais dans un contexte de transition des modes de vie

Anthropologie, 2012

Dans un contexte de transition des modes de vie au Senegal, les manieres d�'apprehender la sa... more Dans un contexte de transition des modes de vie au Senegal, les manieres d�'apprehender la sante, l�'alimentation et l�'esthetisme sont en pleine mutation. Elles entrainent une construction sociale du corps originale au carrefour d'influences multiples qu�fil est important d�fanalyser pour en evaluer l'impact sur la sante dans un contexte d�'emergence de l'obesite et de mondialisation des stigmas modernes lies a l�fapparence. En considerant trois criteres, l age: [20-25] et . 45 ans, le sexe et le niveau scolaire, 24 entretiens semi directifs ont ete conduits a Dakar et 16 a Gandiaye, communaute rurale du Sine presentant un pourcentage non negligeable de Wolof. Nous observons un processus de rationalisation de la mort et de la maladie, une desacralisation de la nourriture et une �ahedonisation�â de la sexualite. Un rapport moderne au corps emergent, tourne vers la maitrise et la recherche de plaisir, remet en question la valorisation de l�fembonpoint mais...

Research paper thumbnail of Development and Validation of the Body Size Scale for Assessing Body Weight Perception in African Populations