Sex differences in body satisfaction, feeling fat and pressure to diet among Chinese adolescents in Hong Kong

T. H. Lam; Sunita Mahtani Stewart; Gabriel Leung; S. Y. Ho; Alex Hoi Fan; Alison L T Ma

doi:10.1002/erv.480

Sex differences in body satisfaction, feeling fat and pressure to diet among Chinese adolescents in Hong Kong

T. H. Lam, Sunita Mahtani Stewart, Gabriel Leung, S. Y. Ho, Alex Hoi Fan, Alison L T Ma

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: This study examines body size, body satisfaction (BodSat), feelings of fatness (FeelFat) and pressure to diet (PressDiet) in 356 non-referred Hong Kong Chinese adolescents. The primary interest was to elucidate the mechanisms that increase risk for girls to translate their dissatisfaction with their bodies into weight restriction efforts. Method: Secondary school boys (n = 192) and girls (n = 164) completed selected scales of the Body Attitudes Questionnaire with measures for BodSat, FeelFat and PressDiet. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated based on current weight and height. Results: As predicted, the association between FeelFat and PressDiet was stronger in girls than boys. FeelFat mediated the effect of BodSat and BMI on PressDiet in girls. In contrast, in boys, BMI influenced PressDiet independently of FeelFat. Discussion: These findings suggest that the effect of BMI on PressDiet may be a protective factor against eating pathology in boys.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	347-358
Number of pages	12
Journal	European Eating Disorders Review
Volume	10
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/erv.480
State	Published - Sep 2002

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Clinical Psychology
Psychiatry and Mental health

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10.1002/erv.480

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title = "Sex differences in body satisfaction, feeling fat and pressure to diet among Chinese adolescents in Hong Kong",

abstract = "Objective: This study examines body size, body satisfaction (BodSat), feelings of fatness (FeelFat) and pressure to diet (PressDiet) in 356 non-referred Hong Kong Chinese adolescents. The primary interest was to elucidate the mechanisms that increase risk for girls to translate their dissatisfaction with their bodies into weight restriction efforts. Method: Secondary school boys (n = 192) and girls (n = 164) completed selected scales of the Body Attitudes Questionnaire with measures for BodSat, FeelFat and PressDiet. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated based on current weight and height. Results: As predicted, the association between FeelFat and PressDiet was stronger in girls than boys. FeelFat mediated the effect of BodSat and BMI on PressDiet in girls. In contrast, in boys, BMI influenced PressDiet independently of FeelFat. Discussion: These findings suggest that the effect of BMI on PressDiet may be a protective factor against eating pathology in boys.",

author = "Lam, {T. H.} and Stewart, {Sunita Mahtani} and Gabriel Leung and Ho, {S. Y.} and Fan, {Alex Hoi} and Ma, {Alison L T}",

year = "2002",

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doi = "10.1002/erv.480",

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volume = "10",

pages = "347--358",

journal = "European Eating Disorders Review",

issn = "1072-4133",

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T1 - Sex differences in body satisfaction, feeling fat and pressure to diet among Chinese adolescents in Hong Kong

AU - Lam, T. H.

AU - Stewart, Sunita Mahtani

AU - Leung, Gabriel

AU - Ho, S. Y.

AU - Fan, Alex Hoi

AU - Ma, Alison L T

PY - 2002/9

Y1 - 2002/9

N2 - Objective: This study examines body size, body satisfaction (BodSat), feelings of fatness (FeelFat) and pressure to diet (PressDiet) in 356 non-referred Hong Kong Chinese adolescents. The primary interest was to elucidate the mechanisms that increase risk for girls to translate their dissatisfaction with their bodies into weight restriction efforts. Method: Secondary school boys (n = 192) and girls (n = 164) completed selected scales of the Body Attitudes Questionnaire with measures for BodSat, FeelFat and PressDiet. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated based on current weight and height. Results: As predicted, the association between FeelFat and PressDiet was stronger in girls than boys. FeelFat mediated the effect of BodSat and BMI on PressDiet in girls. In contrast, in boys, BMI influenced PressDiet independently of FeelFat. Discussion: These findings suggest that the effect of BMI on PressDiet may be a protective factor against eating pathology in boys.

AB - Objective: This study examines body size, body satisfaction (BodSat), feelings of fatness (FeelFat) and pressure to diet (PressDiet) in 356 non-referred Hong Kong Chinese adolescents. The primary interest was to elucidate the mechanisms that increase risk for girls to translate their dissatisfaction with their bodies into weight restriction efforts. Method: Secondary school boys (n = 192) and girls (n = 164) completed selected scales of the Body Attitudes Questionnaire with measures for BodSat, FeelFat and PressDiet. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated based on current weight and height. Results: As predicted, the association between FeelFat and PressDiet was stronger in girls than boys. FeelFat mediated the effect of BodSat and BMI on PressDiet in girls. In contrast, in boys, BMI influenced PressDiet independently of FeelFat. Discussion: These findings suggest that the effect of BMI on PressDiet may be a protective factor against eating pathology in boys.

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Sex differences in body satisfaction, feeling fat and pressure to diet among Chinese adolescents in Hong Kong

Abstract

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