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Dissertation
Predictors of body image dissatisfaction in obese women seeking weight loss treatment
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University
Aug 1999
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00009953
Abstract
Obese females, shown to experience more body dissatisfaction than obese males and normal weight individuals, frequently present for weight loss treatment hoping that weight reduction will improve their body image. However, weight loss alone may be an imperfect solution to body image problems. It has been recommended that body image therapy be incorporated with weight loss therapy to address this issue. An increased understanding of body image in obese women presenting for weight loss treatment may facilitate development of such therapies. Therefore, this investigation assessed the ability of several recognized risk factors (obesity onset, teasing history, and sociocultural influence) in conjunction with a cognitive style factor, previously unexamined in relation to body image, to predict body dissatisfaction in 74 obese, female, weight loss treatment seekers. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis indicated that 30% of the variance in body dissatisfaction was accounted for by this model; after controlling for current age, cognitive style was the only predictor which significantly added to change in R2. Repeating this analysis using depressive symptomatology as an additional covariate, 41% of the variance in body dissatisfaction was explained; again cognitive style was the only variable which significantly added to change in R2 after covariate effects were removed. To evaluate the severity of body dissatisfaction and related variables in this obese sample, a comparison group of 62 normal weight, female, university students was included. Although no significant group differences in depressive symptomatology or cognitive style were found, obese participants reported significantly more body dissatisfaction and weight/size teasing. Secondarily, this study attempted to clarify whether obesity onset during certain developmental periods differentially influences the development of body dissatisfaction. A one-way ANOVA indicated no significant differences in body image between obese participants who first became overweight as children, adolescents, or adults. Finally, an exploratory principal components analysis examined whether measures of body dissatisfaction and measures of the extent to which overall self-evaluation is affected by body dissatisfaction would load on a single factor or emerge as separate factors. Separation of these measures was not empirically supported. Implications for treatment and future research are discussed.
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Details
- Title
- Predictors of body image dissatisfaction in obese women seeking weight loss treatment
- Creators
- Diana Monica Kopyt
- Contributors
- Michael R. Lowe (Advisor) - Drexel University, Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University (1993-1996, 1998-2002)
- Awarding Institution
- Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Publisher
- Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- viii, 148 pages, 2 unnumbered pages
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University (1993-1996, 1998-2002); Clinical and Health Psychology [Historical]; School of Health Professions (1998-2000)
- Other Identifier
- 991021888828504721