Latina Mothers’ Body Image Perceptions

Rates of overweight among low-income Hispanic/Latino children are notably rising. This study sought to describe women’s body image perceptions of themselves and their children and to explore the extent to which body weight (body mass index) and perceptions of being over/underweight influenced their food choices for themselves and the children. The study group was comprised of 187 women (mean age 33.8 years) and one of their children (mean age 6 years) who attended a hospital-based pediatric service. Most were on Medicaid (82%) and Spanish was their primary language (86%). Heights and weights were measured to calculate body mass index (BMI) with appropriate adult and childhood age-for-gender growth charts. An interviewer asked about food intake and factors (healthfulness, taste, and social-environmental) that may influence food choices mothers made for themselves and their children.
The women’s self-assessments using the Body Image Questionnaire (choosing from among seven line figures) indicated that they thought a relatively thin adult figure was most attractive and healthy.  Overall, the women picked a body image self-rating close to mid-point (BMI 25-26) on a seven-point scale, even though 40% were overweight.  Those who were obese by national standards (BMI of 30 or higher) thought they were just a unit larger than mid-point figure.  The greater their weight, the less agreement between their actual measured size and their perceived size.
Perceptions of their children’s body sizes differed more dramatically from the measured BMI-for-age. Mothers perceived their children were thinner (using the line drawing selection) than the child’s BMI-for-age. Children at the 50th and 75th percentiles were considered too thin (not as attractive or healthy) and heavier children (above 97th percentile) were perceived to be just above mid-range. Mothers did not make food choices for overweight children based on health factors. 
Mothers did not perceive their children who were at or above the 95th percentile to be overweight. Health professionals need to consider cultural perspectives about health consequences of being overweight; families may not believe their heavy child is overweight or at risk.

(Contento I, Basch C and Zybert P. J Nutr Educ Behav 2003:35(5):236-248)

Comment: This supports other research that suggests mothers do not see overweight children as being too big or at risk for “adult” chronic conditions. It was surprising given that these mothers had more accurate perceptions about their own size and some dissatisfaction with their overweight status. --J.O.