P2-95 Obesity increases 28% in 3 years in premenopausal low-income Chilean women independently of body size misperception

• Published in: Journal of epidemiology and community health (1979) 2011-08, Vol.65 (Suppl 1), p.A246-A246
• Main Authors: Garmendia, M L, Alonso, F, Kain, J, Corvalan, C, de Aguirre, M, Searle, J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age; Anthropometry; Body concept; Body mass; Body size; Females; Height; Nutrition; Nutritional status; Obesity; parity; Perception; Rating scales; Socioeconomics; Strategy; Weight; Women
• ISSN: 0143-005X; 1470-2738
• DOI: 10.1136/jech.2011.142976i.30

IntroductionHow body image perception (BIP) influences changes in Body Mass Index (BMI) in adult women has not been evaluated.ObjectiveTo assess BMI-changes over a 3-year period and their relationship with BIP in a Chilean women population-based cohort.MethodsWeight and height were measured at baseline (32.0±7.0 y) and at follow-up in 510 women participants in the GOCS study. BMI was used to classify women in normal (≤25 kg/m2), overweight (>25 kg/m2), or obese (>30 kg/m2). BIP was self-assessed at baseline using the Stunkard Figure Rating Scale (nine figures from very thin to very obese). BIP-discrepancy was defined as the disagreement between measured-BMI and assigned-BMI of the selected figure (defined on a previous validation study). Multivariate linear regression was used to assess the influence of BIP on BMI-changes stratifying by nutritional status and controlling for potential confounders (ie, parity, schooling, age).ResultsAt baseline, 61% had excess weight (37% overweight and 24% obese). In 3 years, this number increased to 70% (38% overweight and 31% obese). One out of 4 increased their BMI category, particularly normal women (28.9% from normal to overweight and 22.5% from overweight to obesity). At baseline, BIP-discrepancy was 66% and was associated to concurrent BMI only in obese (p-for-interaction 0.05, coefficient =−0.45, 95% CI −0.95 to 0.04).ConclusionIn 3 years we observe a large BMI increase among young women of a post-transitional country. Body size misperception does not explain this large increase. Population strategies are needed to stop this detrimental trend.