Unhealthy Perception In Body Weight Can Lead To Unhealthy Habits

Why is it that some women can look in a mirror and think they are normal weight while other women looking in that same mirror will think they are over weight? A recent study in the periodical Obstetrics & Gynecology found that 25% of women who were actually overweight and had an increased risk of obesity believed they were normal weight with no increased obesity risks. The study also determined that about 16% of women who were not overweight actually had a distorted image of them selves and believed they were overweight.

Women in the Hollywood-Miami area are no exception and can look to this study for information on their risks as well. Factors that contributed to the difference in what women believed were racial and education related. The college educated and internet savvy were more likely to have an accurate view of what category they fit in, whether it was overweight or normal weight, while African American and Hispanic women tended to believe their BMI or Body Mass Index was lower than it actually was. BMI is a measurement of body mass that is a result of a person’s height and weight.

Whatever the group a woman fell into, the issue is the habits related to the misperception of body image. Women who believed they were normal weight even though they fell into the overweight category were less likely to take the measures to control their weight. They were less likely to cut back on calories to promote weight loss and more likely take part in unhealthy habits. This, of course, increases the risk of obesity.

No matter what category a woman fits into, all doctors agree on one thing. Women should find out what their actual Body Mass Index is and takes the steps from there to remain or get healthy.