What women think about their husbands' opinions might influence women's body image: An explorative study

Background : Self-perception of weight status is an important factor in food consumption and weight-loss-related behaviors.
Aims : To determine women′s self-perception of weight status, married women′s perception of their husbands′ opinions regarding women′s weight status, the relationship between socio-demographic factors and under-assessment of weight status in overweight/obese women.
Settings and Design : In a cross-sectional study in the year 2003 in Islamshahr, 704 adult women aged 19 to 65 years were included.
Materials and Methods : Women′s self-perception of weight and married women′s perception of husbands′ opinions regarding women′s weight status were compared with actual weight group categorized according to body mass index (BMI).
Statistical Analysis Used : Results were expressed as frequency and percentage. Logistic regression was used to assess the independent effects of various socio-demographic factors on under-assessment of weight status in overweight and obese women. Data were analyzed using SPSS 11.5 for Windows (SPSS, Chicago, IL). Results : Overall, 48% (338) women misclassified their weight status relative to their actual weight. Married women′s perception of husbands′ opinion regarding women′s weight status showed about 57% (266) misclassification. Multivariate regression analysis revealed place of residence and women′s perception of husbands′ opinion regarding women′s weight status to be independently associated with under-assessment of weight status by overweight and obese women.
Conclusions : Overweight and obese women′s perception of their husbands′ opinion regarding women′s weight status has a significant effect on assessment of weight status by women. Women of Islamshahr should be taught to more accurately assess weight status and to initiate action to prevent or correct excessive weight.