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Defined weight expectations in overweight women: anthropometrical, psychological and eating behavioral correlates

International Journal of Obesity volume 31, pages 1731–1738 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

To examine associations between defined weight expectations and anthropometric profile and to identify psychological and eating behavioral factors that characterize women having more realistic weight expectations.

Methods:

A nonrandom sample of 154 overweight/obese women completed the ‘Goals and Relative Weight Questionnaire’, which assessed four weight expectations: (1) dream weight (whatever wanted to weight); (2) happy weight (would be happy to achieve); (3) acceptable weight (could accept even if not happy with it); and (4) disappointed weight (would not view as a successful achievement). Psychological assessments evaluated dysphoria, self-esteem, satisfaction with one's body (i.e., body esteem) and weight-related quality of life. The ‘Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire’ assessed eating behaviors: (1) cognitive dietary restraint (control of food intake), (2) disinhibition (overconsumption of food with a loss of control), and (3) susceptibility to hunger (food intake in response to feelings and perceptions of hunger).

Results:

Women's expectations for their dream (60.6±6.0 kg), happy (65.2±6.4 kg) and acceptable (67.9±6.8 kg) weights corresponded to higher percentages of weight loss (24.2±6.6% or 19.8±7.1 kg, 18.6±5.8% or 15.2±6.0 kg and 15.2±5.7% or 12.6±5.8 kg, respectively) than goals recommended for overweight individuals. Defined weight expectations were positively associated with current weight and body mass index (BMI; 0.37⩽r⩽0.85; P<0.0001). When women were matched one by one for their current BMI, but showing different happy BMI, women with a more realistic happy BMI were older (P=0.03) and were characterized by a greater satisfaction towards body weight (P=0.04), a higher score for flexible restraint (P=0.003) and a lower score for susceptibility to hunger (P=0.02) than women with a less realistic happy BMI.

Conclusion:

These findings suggest that having more realistic weight expectations is related to healthier psychological and eating behavioral characteristics.

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Acknowledgements

This research project was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (MOP-64226) and Danone Institute. VP is recipient of a studentship from the Fonds de la recherche en santé du Québec. AT is partly funded by the Canada Research Chair in Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Energy Balance. We would like to underline the excellent work of all research professionals that were involved in this study (Geneviève Alain, Louise Corneau, Julie Doyon and Natacha Godbout) as well as the research nurses (Danielle Aubin and Claire Julien). The authors would like to express their gratitude to the subjects for their participation in this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Institute of Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods, Laval University, Québec, Canada

    V Provencher, H C Gagnon & S Lemieux

  2. School of Psychology, Laval University, Québec, Canada

    C Bégin & M-P Gagnon-Girouard

  3. Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Division of Kinesiology, Laval University, Québec, Canada

    A Tremblay

  4. Eating Disorders Treatment Program, CHUL, CHUQ, Laval University, Québec, Canada

    S Boivin

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  1. V Provencher
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Correspondence to S Lemieux.

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Provencher, V., Bégin, C., Gagnon-Girouard, MP. et al. Defined weight expectations in overweight women: anthropometrical, psychological and eating behavioral correlates. Int J Obes 31, 1731–1738 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803656

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