Abstract
Introduction: Body Appreciation (BA) is the most widely used measure of positive body image and assesses an overall positive orientation to the body. Little is known about BA among Saudi middle-aged women related to weight status and weight loss efforts. Most published studies in Saudi Arabia have been conducted among college-age females.
Aim: The primary aim was to identify BA, weight status Body Mass Index (BMI), and Weight Loss (WL) efforts among middle-aged Saudi women. The second aim was to test the mediation effect of BA on the association between BMI and WL.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional face-to-face interview design study included 326 middle-aged women recruited from all primary health centers in Hofuf city. Correlation analysis was used to describe univariate relationships among BMI, BA, and WL. Hayes tests for mediation were conducted, where BMI was the predictor, the WL score was the outcome, and BA was the mediator under investigation.
Results: Mean age was 49.14 +/- 8.35 years, and mean BMI was 29.64 +/- 5.82 kg/m(2). The mean BA score was 3.92 +/- 2.43. Majority of them (228; 69.9%) were unsatisfied with their body weight; and 256 (78.5%) had made an effort to lose weight. BMI and WL were significant correlates of BA. We found that BA fully mediated the relationship between BMI and WL in women.
Conclusion: BA mediated the relationship between BMI and WL, which can contribute to our understanding of specific factors that can influence body image among middle-aged women.