Femininity, image, feminism and a decision to seek treatment in obese women

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Abstract
Notions of changing role norms for women, and the possible effect of these on health behavior was the focus of this study. The purpose of the investigation was to determine if femininity, body and self image, and feminism were related to a decision to seek treatment for obesity. Three groups of women were selected to study: obese women in treatment for their obesity; obese women not in treatment for their obesity; and normal weight women. A comparative descriptive design was utilized to test the study's hypotheses. The research hypotheses predicted that the women in treatment would be more pro‐feminist than either of the other two groups; the women not in treatment for their obesity would have more negative body and self images than the other two groups; and that the normal weight women would be more feminine than either of the obese groups. Women in treatment were not found to be more pro‐feminist; both groups of obese women had more negative body images than the normal weight group, but not more negative self images when compared to the normal weight group. Additionally there was a trend, although not a statistically significant finding, for the normal weight women to be more feminine. This study failed to support several notions in the literature about obese women. Further work is warranted, based on this study's findings, on treatment decisions and changing roles for women.

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