Mental health of people with distorted body weight perception using medicinal remedies: A representative study

• Published in: International journal of clinical and health psychology 2021-05, Vol.21 (2), p.100224, Article 100224
• Main Authors: Kim, Meelim, Kim, Seonyeop, Kim, Woojun, Choi, Hyung Jin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Body weight distortion; Condiciones psicológicas; Descriptive survey study; Distorsión del peso corporal; Estrategias para control de peso; Estudio descriptive mediante encuestas; Original; Psychological conditions; Weight control strategies
• ISSN: 1697-2600; 2174-0852
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijchp.2021.100224

We aimed to examine the prevalence of distorted body weight perception (BWP) and the choice of weight control strategies to investigate the associations between the psychological features and the different strategies for controlling body weight. Method: We used a representative nationwide 39-item survey to randomly select 1,000 participants. The extrapolated number (eN) to the whole national population was also reported. Self-BWP, weight control strategies, and obesity-related psychological conditions including anxiety, self-esteem, body satisfaction, obesity-related quality-of-life (QoL), and eating attitudes were assessed. Results: Among men, 39.30% (eN = 5,887,137) underestimated, whereas 24.90% (eN = 3,290,847) of women overestimated their weight. In contrast to 2% (eN = 271,745) of men, 15.20% (eN = 2,012,262) of women sought medical support to control their weight. Men and women who used medical support for weight management and women who overestimated their weight reported the most unfavorable psychological conditions (anxiety, self-esteem, body satisfaction, QoL, and eating attitudes; p < .05). Conclusions: A prevalent burden of psychological problems related to distorted BWP and weight control strategies was revealed. People with distorted BWP and using medical procedures for their weight control could be at a higher risk of psychological disorders. Therefore, body weight-related psychological problems call for urgent public health policies. Examinar la prevalencia de percepción distorsionada del peso corporal (BWP) y elección de estrategias de control de peso para investigar asociaciones entre características psicológicas y diferentes estrategias para controlar el peso corporal. Método: Encuesta representativa de 39 ítems a nivel nacional para seleccionar al azar a 1,000 participantes. Se informó número extrapolado (eN) a toda la población nacional. Se evaluaron auto-BWP, estrategias de control de peso y condiciones psicológicas relacionadas con obesidad, ansiedad, autoestima, satisfacción corporal, calidad de vida (QoL) relacionada con la obesidad y actitudes alimentarias. Resultados: Entre los hombres, el 39,30% (eN = 5,887,137) subestimó, mientras que el 24,90% (eN = 3,290,847) de mujeres sobreestimó su peso. A diferencia del 2% (eN = 271,745) de los hombres, el 15,20% (eN = 2,012,262) de mujeres buscó apoyo médico para controlar su peso. Hombres y mujeres que utilizaron apoyo médico para el control de peso y mujeres que sobreestimaron su peso