The impact of obesity on self esteem and body image

Abstract

Objective: Obesity is a disease with psychosocial dimensions and needs multidimensional approach for its treatment. Selfesteem and body image are close meaning concepts and affected with each other in cause and effect relationship. This study is a research planed as descriptive which aims to investigate the affects of obesity over the level of self-esteem and body image according to BMI status.

Methods: The data of this descriptive and cross-sectional study was collected via internet between the dates of 15th December, 2013 and 5th January, 2014 and Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale and Body Image Scale was used. Data were analyzed by SPSS programme.

Results: Of 816 persons included to the study, 704 participants were female, mean age was 25.2±7.5 years and 67.0% of the participants had university or above educational degree. The low self esteem rate was 1.49 times more in obese (p=0.050; %95 CI=1.08-2.23) and 3.31 times in morbid obese (p=0.042; %95 CI=1.04-10.55) if normal person was accepted as referance. On the other hand if normal person was accepted as reference negative body image was 5.48 times more (p=0.029; %95 CI=1.18-25.38) in morbid obese participants.

Conclusion: It has been showed that low self-esteem and low body image are seen in obese persons compared with normal persons.