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Weinberger, N.-A.* ; Luck-Sikorski, C.

Body appreciation and appearance evaluation in individuals with obesity compared to individuals with normal-weight: findings from a representative German population sample.

Eat Weight Disord., DOI: 10.1007/s40519-020-01071-7 (2020)
DOI PMC
Purpose: Body image has been identified as an important factor in mental health in individuals with obesity. Previous studies have focused on negative body image and research of positive body image—particularly in obesity—is still in its infancy. The current study explored the positive body image facet body appreciation and the negative facet appearance evaluation in different BMI groups as well as men and women. Methods: A total of 1003 participants of the general German public above the age of 18 years completed measures on body appreciation and appearance evaluation. Results: Significantly lower body appreciation was observed in male participants with obesity compared to normal-weight participants. In women, the BMI groups did not differ significantly in body appreciation. BMI was negatively associated with appearance evaluation in both genders. While men and women did not differ in body appreciation, men reported lower appearance evaluation scores compared to women. Conclusion: The present study is one of few that investigated positive body image in individuals with obesity compared to individuals with normal weight. The findings underscore the potential of body appreciation as a resource in treatment of body image concerns in individuals with obesity. Further implications for future research are discussed. Level of evidence: III, case–control analytic study.
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Publication type Article: Journal article
Document type Scientific Article
Corresponding Author
Keywords Adults ; Appearance Evaluation ; Body Appreciation ; Body Image ; Obesity; Image Dissatisfaction; Depressive Symptoms; Women; Disorders; Health; Consequences; Satisfaction; Prevalence; Life; Age
ISSN (print) / ISBN 1124-4909
e-ISSN 1590-1262
Journal Eating and Weight Disorders
Publisher Springer
Publishing Place Cham
Non-patent literature Publications
Reviewing status Peer reviewed
Institute(s) Helmholtz Institute for Metabolism, Obesity and Vascular Research (HI-MAG)
Grants Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Germany