BODY-IMAGE CONCEPTS DIFFER BY AGE AND SEX IN AN OJIBWAY-CREE COMMUNITY IN CANADA

Community-based studies of body image concepts can be useful for devel oping health interventions to prevent obesity-related diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease in specific populations. First Na tions peoples, in particular, face increased obesity-related health pr oblems as a result of acculturative changes in diet and activity. This study examined body shape perception in an Ojibway-Cree community in Northern Ontario, Canada. A set of figure outline drawings ranging fro m very thin to very obese were used to examine perceived body shape, b ody shape satisfaction and ideals of healthiness across sex and age gr oups. Overall, only 16% of the population were satisfied with their cu rrent body shape. People with a higher body mass index (BMI) were less satisfied with their bodies and thought they were less healthy than p eople with a lower BMI. While females had a significantly greater BMI than males, males and females did not differ significantly in percepti on of current body shape. On the other hand, females desired relativel y smaller body shapes than males (P < 0.05). Older people chose signif icantly larger healthy body shapes than did younger people (P < 0.05). Differences between our results and those reported for Anglo populati ons indicate that while both groups prefer body shapes smaller than th ose they have currently, the Ojibway-Cree tend to prefer relatively la rger body shapes. Knowledge of age and sex-related patterns of body im age concepts in communities can assist in the design of obesity-reduci ng interventions targeting specific groups.