Body size preferences for women and adolescent girls living in Africa: a mixed-methods systematic review (original) (raw)
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Perceptions of overweight African women about acceptable body size of women and children
Curationis, 1999
Purpose: Malnutrition, presenting as obesity in women and under-nutrition in children, is a prevalent problem in the squatter communities of Cape Town. Food habits are determined by a complex matrix of economic, social and cultural factors which need to be understood by health professionals prior to the implementation of strategies to improve the nutritional status of this community. This qualitative study is designed to explore the perceptions of overweight black women in Cape Town, with underweight infants, about the culturally acceptable body size for women and children.
BODY SIZE PERCEPTIONS OF WOMEN AND OBESITY IN URBAN UGANDA
African Study Monographs (2019), 40(1): 1-21, 2019
In 2016, up to 17.1% of women in urban Uganda were obese. Previous research in the area has highlighted that body size increases were positively viewed by older women. In this study, the body size of 540 women was classified using the Body Mass Index (BMI). Their body size perceptions were identified from a combination of participant observations and interviews, both semi-structured and in-depth. 21 (3.9%) of the women were classified as underweight, 264 (48.9%) as normal, 146 (27.0%) as overweight, and 109 (20.2%) as obese. The perception that one's body size was Just enough (normal) was commonest in the group of women classified as being overweight, 102 (69.9%). In addition, 393 (72.8%) of the women had no desire to change their body size. The positive perception of a big body size was perpetuated by its association with beauty, health, wealth, and maturity. The important indicators that one was Too fat (obese) were a feeling that one was too heavy and trouble finding fashionable fitting clothes. Nevertheless, intentional control of body size was uncommon, attempted by 72 women (13.3%). Obesity control efforts in Uganda may thus benefit from tackling the observed sociocultural barriers and emphasizing the implication of an obese body size on mobility and access to fashionable clothing.
Ethnicity & disease
To assess beliefs about body size (fatness and thinness) and body image in Black girls aged 10-18 years living in Cape Town. Exploratory using qualitative methods. Cape Town, South Africa. Participants were Black African girls (n=240), aged 10-18 years, who attended 5 primary and 6 high schools in Black townships in Cape Town. The schools and the girls were randomly selected. This paper presents qualitative data from 6 focus groups among 60 girls regarding their beliefs about thinness and fatness, and the advantages and disadvantages of being overweight or thin. Beliefs regarding body image indicate that two thirds of the girls perceived fatness as a sign of happiness and wealth. Socially, fatness was accepted but one third of the girls had contradictory views about its advantages. Among obese girls who believed that being obese was preferable, the dominant reasons were that being fat allowed one to engage in sport activities that need strength and also makes one look respectable. O...