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Overweight and obese midlife women in Israel: cultural differences in perceived weight status

  • Original Article
  • Published:
International Journal of Public Health

Abstract

Objectives

To examine cultural differences in Weight status misperception (WSMP) and identify associations between weight perception and weight control efforts among overweight/obese midlife women in Israel.

Methods

Data from the nationally representative Women’s-Health-in-Midlife-National-Study were used. Participants included overweight (25 ≤ BMI < 30) and obese (BMI ≥ 30) midlife women (45–64 years) from three cultural groups: Long-Term Jewish Residents (LTJR), Immigrants from the former USSR, and Arabs. Interviews included measures of BMI, weight perception, lifestyle, and socio-demographics.

Results

Most overweight/obese women (88 %) perceived their weight status correctly. No significant differences were found in overall WSMP rates across cultural groups. Overweight women of Arab origin were significantly more likely (p < 0.001) to perceive their weight as “about right” relative to LTJR and Immigrants. WSMP was associated with several unhealthy eating patterns [eating red meat (OR = 2.1, 95 % CI = 1.13–3.97), white bread (OR = 2.4, 95 % CI = 1.26–4.58)] and with more perceived barriers to exercising (OR = 1.8, 95 % CI = 1.00–3.42).

Conclusions

Health care providers are encouraged to pay attention to overweight/obese women who misperceive their weight status. These women are more likely to consume unhealthy foods and to be at higher risks of suffering from medical complications associated with obesity.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the Israel National Institute for Health Policy and Health Services Research, Grant Number 63/02.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bob Shapell School of Social Work, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Roni Elran-Barak & Yael Benyamini

  2. Women and Children’s Health Research Unit, The Gertner Institute for Epidemiology and Health Policy Research, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel

    Tzvia Blumstein, Valentina Boyko, Dana Hadar, Adel Farhi & Liat Lerner-Geva

Authors
  1. Roni Elran-Barak
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  2. Tzvia Blumstein
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  3. Valentina Boyko
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  4. Dana Hadar
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  5. Adel Farhi
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  6. Liat Lerner-Geva
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  7. Yael Benyamini
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Correspondence to Roni Elran-Barak.

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Elran-Barak, R., Blumstein, T., Boyko, V. et al. Overweight and obese midlife women in Israel: cultural differences in perceived weight status. Int J Public Health 61, 39–47 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-015-0753-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-015-0753-0

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