Exploring body weight perception

Perceptions regarding weight and subsequent dieting practices are presented in Table 4.13 Table 4.13: Perceptions regarding weight and subsequent dieting practices

Perceptions regarding weight and subsequent dieting practices Female (n=18) (%) Male (n=12) (%) Total (n=30) (%) Unhappy with current body weight 13 (72) 4 (33) 17 (57)

Wanting to lose weight 13 (72) 3 (25) 16 (53)

Gained weight in the past year 8 (44) 8 (67) 16 (53) Lost weight in the past year 3 (17%) 3 (25) 6 (20) Weight is an issue for them 3(17%) 3 (25) 6 (20) Using a combination of diet, exercise and healthy eating to

control weight

9 (50%) 3 (25) 12 (40)

Findings on weight status show in comparison to males, more females are unhappy with their current weight, wanting to lose weight and have used diet and exercise and healthy eating to control weight. Equal numbers of males and females gained weight in the past year and an equal proportion of males and females reported that weight is an issue for them.

Body weight perceptions amongst the participants have also been influenced by family and peers perspectives regarding large body size.

4.5.1 Families perspectives on large body size

 Families of eight of the participants (n=8, 27%) thought that it was acceptable to have a larger body size because they themselves or people they know are of larger body size. Having a larger body size according to participant’s families was considered acceptable provided that an individual is happy.

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“They do not really say much because they are big themselves”

“Large body size is good [and] acceptable as most of my family members are big size” “Mum is big women and try to make excuses that big is okay and as long as you are happy”.

 All eight participants disagreed with their families’ perception due health and psychological consequences entailed with large body size.

“When we were young Dad used to try and feed us heaps coz he thought we were too skinny - I disagree with this because of the effects it has on your insides is more important than a desired bulky frame”.

“My parents think it is okay to be big in size- My siblings and I think differently, we think it is disgusting to be big, because we have seen too many family members suffer and die from obesity”.

“Do not agree [with families perspective of large body size being acceptable] because it causes more problems like sickness mental health problem, lack of motivation”.

 The remaining 22 participants reported that their families did not find it acceptable to be of a larger body size. This was due mainly to health reasons:

o Larger body size is perceived to be associated with adverse health consequences

“Large body is unhealthy high risk disease like diabetes, CVD” “High risk for diabetes, CVD, Heart Disease”

“Dad [thinks it is ] unhealthy -prone to disease” “Unhealthy, unfit and prone to diabetes etc”

“Large body- unhealthy health risks like diabetes, CVD, unfit”

“Parents and relatives - will always say that large body size people need to eat healthy otherwise you will die”.

o Larger body size does not define beauty and is often a reflection of an unhealthy diet and lifestyle

“Unhealthy not look good in appearance and whole body sickly and too much eating fatty food”

“Large body not healthy, not good look/ugly, embarrassing” “Being fat is not healthy

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“They also thinks its unhealthy, always tell me to watch my food intake

“

o Larger body size was perceived to be a result of a mixture of factors such as low socio-economic status and cultural factors which lead to over-eating and

encouraging minimal physical activity.

“Large body size: over eating, not enough exercise, results of low social, economic and cultural factors”

 A few families who are of large body size do not encourage their children (n=3, 10%) to have larger body size and have shown to encourage them to eat healthier and exercise regularly due to the consequences mentioned above.

“They don’t encourage having large body size; they always make sure we don’t eat too much junk food”

“Parents always tell me to cut down on Island food

“They definitely care for us - Dad always tells us to watch what we eat; especially takeaways - especially me and my younger brother, because we are young”

The majority of the participants (n=22, 73%) agreed with their families’ perception that large body size is not seen as being acceptable due to the same reasons mentioned above. 4.5.2 Peers perspective on large body size

 Peers of 14 participants thought it is unacceptable to have a larger body size since being big is indicative of being lazy, unfit, unappealing and less motivated and having an unhealthy lifestyle.

“Too unhealthy/disgusting”

“Large body - unhealthy, unfit, not look good, less motivate, lazy” “Being big is not good or appealing”

“I often heard them wish to be in small size ‘fit & active’”

“All my friends view that smaller size is better and healthier and good”

“They think its unhealthy; To pursue a good looking body its about being healthy”. “Friends are very judgemental on big people, think that they are unhealthy, lazy etc., I don’t agree”

“Easily criticise, no patience for understanding cultural reasons as to why” “I'm with lots of palagi's who perceive that being big is a disadvantage”

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 Larger body size is also perceived to be associated with adverse health consequences.

“High risk of disease, unhealthy, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease”

“Most of my friends are big; but they are fully aware of the health implications, they are now looking at losing weight and exercising”

“When we see big people struggling to breath or struggle to walk we would say to each other "I don’t want to be like them”

“If they [people] are obese then that's when I think they need help”

“I totally agree with them- high risk of disease, unhealthy, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease”.

 It was apparent that a negative view on self-image existed for those having a larger body size, whilst being of a smaller body size is perceived to be more acceptable, appealing and healthy.

“Yes I agree with them; because I hate to be big myself, I want to look fit and look healthy”.

“I agree, big is bad and you have to lose weight”

“I agree, smaller is healthier and you feel good, good self -esteem, lots of energy”. “Small body is looking good and [is] acceptable”.

“I agree with them - small size is healthier and acceptable- small size has the fashion clothes”

However some participants (n=6, 20%) disagreed with their peers who perceived large body size to be unacceptable. The main reason participants disagreed was that they felt their peers were being judgemental without having awareness on the impact of Pacific culture and their socio-economic realities

“No [Disagree] - because I've been exposed to reasons as to why/how Pacific Islanders are generally bigger than non-Pacific Islander. Traditional type food, lack of

money/education to provide food that will benefit a child’s health in NZ society- easy to buy junk food”

“I wouldn’t agree with my work colleagues, but for my island friends I'm aware of my culture. As long as parents’ food will make them full, and their body types don’t affect them, don’t matter”.

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“Do not agree with my friend perspective. I am large but not feeling anything wrong with my body”.

 There were mixed views regarding acceptability to have a larger body size:

o Positive views was based on the cultural acceptability to be big as it signifies beauty and that Pacific people are genetically large:

“Pacific friends think large body is beautiful”

“It could be a good thing; sometimes it’s an island thing to be curvy or it could be genetics”

“In Auckland there are pretty big people, they are okay with it”

“Most of my friends are big (size) and they think are okay, some prefer small body but "average" Not too small-has to be the Island body, has to have some meat”.

o Others find it acceptable to have a large body size since it defines a person for who they are

“They are not judgmental, not critical, if that's who you are, than that’s who you are really”

“Big can be good, could be genetics and it could be out of their control being big”. “I agree to an extent, like I'm all for different body size, as long as people are happy”. “Yes I agree-if that's who you are, then that’s who you are really”.