TY - JOUR

T1 - Literature review

T2 - perceptions and management of body size among normal weight and moderately overweight people

AU - Nissen, Nina Konstantin

AU - Holm, Lotte

N1 - Article first published online: 9 DEC 2014

PY - 2015

Y1 - 2015

N2 - Improved understanding of how normal weight and moderately overweightpeople manage their body weight and shape could be used to inform initiatives toprevent and treat obesity. This literature review offers a thorough appraisal ofexisting research into perceptions and management of own body size amongnormal weight and moderately overweight people. The studies reported in the47 publications reviewed here address various themes based on differentconceptualizations. The studies point out that normal weight and moderatelyoverweight people are much concerned about their body size, but huge discrepancies are found between their own perceptions and study categorizations. The studies also indicate that normal weight and moderately overweight people are actively engaged in managing their body size through numerous managing strategies, and dieting is widespread. Together the studies do not form a unified and coherent research field, and there is a bias towards North American study populations. Methodological problems were identified in some publications, raising questions about generalizability of the findings. Moreover, only few studies give deeper insight into the specific perceptions and actions. Repeated studies are needed in broader and more differentiated geographical, social and cultural contexts, and longitudinal studies and more in-depth explorations are especially needed.

AB - Improved understanding of how normal weight and moderately overweightpeople manage their body weight and shape could be used to inform initiatives toprevent and treat obesity. This literature review offers a thorough appraisal ofexisting research into perceptions and management of own body size amongnormal weight and moderately overweight people. The studies reported in the47 publications reviewed here address various themes based on differentconceptualizations. The studies point out that normal weight and moderatelyoverweight people are much concerned about their body size, but huge discrepancies are found between their own perceptions and study categorizations. The studies also indicate that normal weight and moderately overweight people are actively engaged in managing their body size through numerous managing strategies, and dieting is widespread. Together the studies do not form a unified and coherent research field, and there is a bias towards North American study populations. Methodological problems were identified in some publications, raising questions about generalizability of the findings. Moreover, only few studies give deeper insight into the specific perceptions and actions. Repeated studies are needed in broader and more differentiated geographical, social and cultural contexts, and longitudinal studies and more in-depth explorations are especially needed.

U2 - 10.1111/obr.12231

DO - 10.1111/obr.12231

M3 - Review

C2 - 25487846

VL - 16

SP - 150

EP - 160

JO - Obesity Reviews

JF - Obesity Reviews

SN - 1467-7881

IS - 2

ER -