Clinical Study

Adults with Greater Weight Satisfaction Report More Positive Health Behaviors and Have Better Health Status Regardless of BMI

Table 3

Relationships between body weight satisfaction by overweight status and weight-related health behaviors, Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study, 1987–2002: men ( )*.

Weight related behaviorsSatisfied ( )Dissatisfied ( )
Normal
( )
Overweight ( )Obese
( )
Normal
Weight
( )
Overweight ( )Obese
( )

Eating to maintain weight,a,b,c
 Eat less 1597 (34.9)1132 (45.4)18 (40.0)245 (49.1)2297 (50.9)1158 (51.0)
 Eat just enough2676 (58.4)1107 (44.4)24 (53.3)<.0001194 (38.9)1476 (32.7)572 (25.2)<.0001
 Eat more310 (6.8)254 (10.2)3 (6.7)60 (12.0)743 (16.5)542 (23.9)
551 (12.0)399 (16.0)10 (22.2)<.000190 (18.0)946 (21.0)573 (25.2)<.0001
60 (5.5)70 (15.3)1 (16.7)<.000116 (15.2)168 (23.6)98 (41.2)<.0001
Snacking 7+ times per week?b1174 (43.1)640 (39.8)12 (35.3).08144 (48.0)1288 (43.3)801 (50.1)<.0001
Meal frequency b
 0–13 meals per week324 (7.18)216 (8.8)3 (6.7)41 (8.4)445 (10.0)253 (11.3)
 14–20 meals per week2401 (53.2)1422 (57.9)28 (62.2)<.0001279 (56.9)2752 (61.8)1388 (62.2).003
 ≥21 meals per week1785 (39.6)820 (33.4)14 (31.1)170 (34.7)1258 (28.2)592 (26.5)
 Inactive971 (21.2)587 (23.6)8 (17.8)150 (30.1)1449 (32.1)984 (43.3)
 Moderate2106 (46.0)1283 (51.5)29 (64.4)<.0001206 (41.3)2170 (48.1)1020 (44.9)<.0001
 Active1506 (32.9)623 (25.0)8 (17.8)143 (28.7)897 (19.9)268 (11.8)
Tobacco
  Never2695 (58.8)1338 (53.7)25 (55.6)284 (56.9)2359 (52.2)1126 (49.6)
 Former1408 (30.7)786 (31.5)7 (15.6)<.0001159 (31.9)1493 (33.1)773 (34.0).0084
 Current480 (10.5)369 (14.8)13 (29.0)56 (11.2)664 (14.7)373 (16.4)
Alcohol
 None1191 (26.0)605 (24.3)15 (33.3)124 (24.9)1157 (25.6)694 (30.6)
 Light2862 (62.5)1516 (60.8)21 (46.7).0003314 (62.9)2714 (60.1)1254 (55.2)<.0001
 Moderate/Heavy530 (11.6)372 (14.9)9 (20.0)61 (12.2)645 (14.3)324 (14.3)

 * applies to all data except  yo-yo dieting, snacking frequency, and meal frequency for satisfied men and  yo-yo dieting, snacking frequency, and meal frequency in dissatisfied men.
Categorical variables reported as number of participants with characteristic and % of column total for variable represented (%).
Weight satisfaction based on the difference between measured and goal weight (kg) or relative weight (kg/m2).
= body mass index, a measure of relative weight is described by this formula: weight (kg)/height (m)2 categories; = normal weight classified as BMI of 18.5–24.9; OW = overweight classified as BMI 25–29.9 kg/m2; Obese classified as BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2.
of chi-square or Fisher’s exact test: comparisons of weight related behaviors across BMI groups within weight satisfaction columns (satisfied or dissatisfied). (aSignificance of chi-square or Fisher’s exact test: comparison of proportions for each behavior between normal weight satisfied men and normal weight dissatisfied men; significant comparisons presented in bold text. bSignificance at of chi-square or Fisher’s exact test: comparison of proportions for each behavior between overweight satisfied men and overweight dissatisfied men; significant comparisons presented in bold text. cSignificance at of chi-square or Fisher’s exact test: comparison of proportions for each behavior between obese satisfied men and obese dissatisfied men; significant comparisons are presented in bold text).
Eating to maintain weight coded as Less = generally eating less than what he wants to maintain weight; Just = eating just the amount he/she wants to maintain weight; More = generally having to eat more than what he/she wants to maintain weight.
**Diet frequency coded as Less = never, rarely, or only sometimes dieting; More = often or always dieting.
††Yo-yo dieting coded as “are you really a yo-yo dieter?” Yes or No.
‡‡Activity, from self-reported leisure-time physical activity questionnaire, inactive defined as no regular leisure-time activity; moderate defined as some participation in regular leisure-time activity, or walking, jogging, or running less than 10 miles per week; active defined as walking, jogging, or running 10 miles or more per week.
use defined as Never = never smoked cigarettes; Former = previously smoked cigarettes; Current = currently smoked cigarettes based on self-reported smoking habit questionnaire.
consumption defined as none, light which corresponds to <30 grams per day or moderate/heavy which corresponds to ≥30 grams per day.