BLACK-AND-WHITE ADOLESCENT FEMALES PERCEPTIONS OF IDEAL BODY-SIZE

A stratified, random sample of 344 White and Black adolescent females participated in a survey of ideal body size beliefs, which included re sponses to a questionnaire and a series of nine female and male body s ize drawings. Using SES and race as independent variables and BMI (kg/ m(2)) as a covariate, Black females preferred a significantly heavier ideal female body size than Whites. They also perceived their parents and both male and female friends would select as ideal a significantly heavier female body size than White subjects. Black subjects' body si ze preferences were significantly more influenced by family members th an were White subjects, who were significantly more influenced by thei r peer group. These findings suggest a greater social approval of incr easing weight and body size for Black adolescent females, a desire for a smaller size by While adolescent females, and cultural differences in the influencing factors that help to communicate these body size pr eferences.