GENDER DIFFERENCES IN THE PSYCHOLOGICAL CORRELATES OF BODY-WEIGHT IN YOUNG-ADULTS

This study investigated gender differences in the correlates of actual and perceived body weight in a sample of young adults, as opposed to the college students usually sampled. Although women were significantl y less overweight than men on an objective index of weight (the Body M ass Index), they perceived themselves to be significantly more overwei ght. The extent to which women perceived themselves as overweight was correlated negatively with self-esteem, and positively with negative a ffect including depressed mood, and minor psychiatric symptomology. In contrast, there was no relationship between body-weight perception an d psychological well-being for the men. It was concluded that a woman' s body weight is much more central to her self-image than is a man's.