Abstract
The purpose of this study was to separate the effects of gender from those of desired weight loss on body satisfaction and eating disordered behavior. Therefore, we explored gender differences in a sample (N = 191) of men and women who wanted to lose weight. We expected that controlling for desire to lose weight would minimize gender differences; this was supported for (a) overall body dissatisfaction, and (b) degree of concern about, effect of, and importance of weight and appearance. Nevertheless, women reported (a) less satisfaction with several body parts, (b) stronger relations between body satisfaction and self-esteem, and (c) use of more weight-loss strategies. Exploratory analyses also were conducted to examine within-group differences among men. Implications are discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bohrnstedt, G. W. (1977). On measuring body satisfaction. Unpublished manuscript. University at Bloomington, Indiana.
Cash, T. F., & Brown, T. A. (1989). Gender and body images: Stereotypes and realities. Sex Roles, 21, 361–373.
Chen, W., & Swalm, R. L. (1998). Chinese and American college students' body-image: Perceived body shape and body affect. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 87, 395–403.
Cohn, L. D., & Adler, N. E. (1992). Female and male perceptions of ideal body shapes. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 16, 69–79.
Connor-Greene, P. A. (1988). Gender differences in body weight perception and weight-loss strategies of college students. Women and Health, 14, 27–42.
Cullari, S., Rohrer, J. M., & Bahm, C. (1998). Body image perceptions across sex and age groups. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 87, 839–847.
Davis, C., Dionne, M., & Lazarus, L. (1996). Gender role orientation and body image in women and men: The moderating influence of neuroticism. Sex Roles, 34, 493–505.
Davis, C., Elliot, S., Dionne, M., & Mitchell, I. (1991). The relationship of personality factors and physical activity to body satisfaction in men. Personality and Individual Differences, 12, 689–694.
Drewnowski, A., & Yee, D. K. (1987). Men and body image: Are males satisfied with their body weight? Psychosomatic Medicine, 49, 626–634.
Furnham, A., & Greaves, N. (1994). Gender and locus of control correlates of body image dissatisfaction. European Journal of Personality, 8, 183–200.
Garner, D. M., Garfinkel, P. E., & Olmsted, M. P. (1983). An overview of the socio-cultural factors in the development of anorexia nervosa. In P. L. Darby, P. E. Garfinkel, D. M. Garner, & D. V. Coscina (Eds.), Anorexia nervosa: Recent developments (pp. 65–82). New York: Alan R. Liss.
Gray, S. (1977). Social aspects of body image: Perception of normalcy of weight and affect of college undergraduates. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 45, 1035–1040.
Hesse-Biber, S. (1996). Am I thin enough yet? New York: Oxford University Press.
Hesse-Biber, S., Clayton-Matthews, A., & Downey, J. A. (1987). The differential importance of weight and body-image among women and men. Genetic, Social, and General Psychology Monographs, 11, 509–528.
Kearney-Cooke, A., & Steichen-Asch, P. (1990). Men, body image, and eating disorders. In A. E. Anderson (Ed.), Males with eating disorders (pp. 54–73). New York: Brunner/Mazel.
Lerner, R. M., & Karabenick, S. A. (1974). Physical attractiveness, body attitudes, and self-concept in late adolescents. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 3, 307–316.
Lerner, R. M., Karabenick, S. A., & Stuart, J. L. (1973). Relations among physical attractiveness, body attitudes, and self-concept in male and female college students. Journal of Psychology, 85, 119–129.
McCauley, M., Mintz, L., & Glenn, A. (1988). Body image, self-esteem, and depression-proneness: Closing the gap. Sex Roles, 18, 381–391.
McKinley, N. M. (1998). Gender differences in undergraduates' body esteem: The mediating effect of objectified body consciousness and actual/ideal weight discrepancy. Sex Roles, 39, 113–123.
Mintz, L. B., & Betz, N. (1986). Sex differences in the nature, realism, and correlates of body image. Sex Roles, 15, 185–195.
Mintz, L. B., & Betz, N. (1988). Prevalence and correlates of eating disordered behavior among college women. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 35, 463–471.
Noles, S. W., Cash, T. F., & Winstead, B. A. (1985). Body image, physical attractiveness, and depression. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 53, 88–94.
O'Halloran, S. M. (1989, August). Prevalence and correlates of eating disorders among university women. In L. Mintz (Chair), Eating disorders: Clinically defined pathology as empirically normative behavior. Symposium conducted at the meeting of the American Psychological Association, New Orleans, LA.
Ousley, L. B. (1986). Differences among bulimic subgroups, binge-eaters, and normal dieters in a female college population. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Florida.
Petrie, T. A., & Rogers, R. (2001). Extending the discussion of eating disorders to include men and athletes. The Counseling Psychologist, 29, 743–753.
Polce-Lynch, M., Myers, B. J., Kilmartin, C. T., Forssmann-Falck, R., & Kliewer, W. (1998). Gender and age patterns in emotional expression, body image, and self-esteem: A qualitative analysis. Sex Roles, 38, 1025–1048.
Polivy, J., & Herman, C. P. (1985). Dieting and binging: A causal analysis. American Psychologist, 40, 193–201.
Pope, H. G., Olivardia, R., Gruber, A., & Borowiecki, J. (1999). Evolving ideals of male body image as seen through action toys. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 26, 65–72.
Ricciardelli, L. A., & McCabe, M. P. (2001). Self-esteem and negative affect as moderators of sociocultural influences on body dissatisfaction, strategies to decrease weight, and strategies to increase muscles among adolescent boys and girls. Sex Roles, 44, 189–207.
Robinson, J. P., & Shaver, P. R. (1973). Measures of social psychological attitudes (2nd ed.). Ann Arbor, MI: Institute for Social Research.
Rosenberg, M. (1965). Society and the adolescent self-image. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
Schwartz, D. J., Phares, V., Tantleff-Dunn, S., & Thompson, J. K. (1999). Body image, psychological functioning, and parental feedback regarding physical appearance. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 25, 339–343.
Silberstein, L. R., Striegel-Moore, R. H., Timko, C., & Rodin, J. (1988). Behavioral and psychological complications of body dissatisfaction: Do men and women differ? Sex Roles, 19, 219–232.
Smolak, L., & Murnen, S. K. (2001). Gender and eating problems. In R. H. Striegel-Moore & L. Smolak (Eds.), Eating disorders: Innovative directions in research and practice (pp. 91–110). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Stice, E. (2001). Risk factors for eating pathology: Recent advances and future directions. In R. H. Striegel-Moore & L. Smolak (Eds.), Eating disorders: Innovative directions in research and practice (pp. 51–73). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Striegel-Moore, R. H., Silberstein, L. R., & Rodin, J. (1986). Toward an understanding of risk factors for bulimia. American Psychologist, 41, 246–263.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kashubeck-West, S., Mintz, L.B. & Weigold, I. Separating the Effects of Gender and Weight-Loss Desire on Body Satisfaction and Disordered Eating Behavior. Sex Roles 53, 505–518 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-005-7138-4
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-005-7138-4