Figure rating scales used in sub-Saharan africa for body image assessment: a scoping review.
| Title: | Figure rating scales used in sub-Saharan africa for body image assessment: a scoping review. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Hurston JS; Section on Diabetes, Nutrition, and Health in the Diabetes, Endocrine and Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.; Huefner EA; Section on Diabetes, Nutrition, and Health in the Diabetes, Endocrine and Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.; Smith GG; Section on Diabetes, Nutrition, and Health in the Diabetes, Endocrine and Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.; Bigirimana SP; Section on Diabetes, Nutrition, and Health in the Diabetes, Endocrine and Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.; National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.; Institute of Global Health Equity Research, University of Global Health Equity, Kigali, Rwanda.; Sumner AE; Section on Diabetes, Nutrition, and Health in the Diabetes, Endocrine and Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.; National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.; Institute of Global Health Equity Research, University of Global Health Equity, Kigali, Rwanda.; Hypertension in Africa Research Team, North-West University, Potchefstroom, North-West, South Africa. |
| Source: | BMJ public health [BMJ Public Health] 2025 Dec 18; Vol. 3 (2), pp. e002970. Date of Electronic Publication: 2025 Dec 18 (Print Publication: 2025). |
| Publication Type: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Journal Info: | Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 9918697578906676 Publication Model: eCollection Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 2753-4294 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 27534294 NLM ISO Abbreviation: BMJ Public Health Subsets: PubMed not MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Original Publication: [London] : BMJ Publishing Group, [2023]- |
| Abstract: | Objectives: Body image is integral to culture and influences health behaviour. In sub-Saharan African countries, body image preference is in flux. To facilitate research on attitudes about body size in Africans, our goal was to provide a central resource of the figure rating scales which have previously been used in African countries.; Design: A scoping review was conducted.; Data Sources: Five databases were accessed: PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Global Health Database and African Index Medicus.; Eligibility Criteria: (1) Study conducted in a sub-Saharan African country; (2) used a figure rating scale to assess body image; (3) enrolled adults; (4) published in English between 1983 and 12 April 2024.; Data Extraction and Synthesis: 842 articles were flagged, and 63 articles identified as appropriate for inclusion.; Results: These 63 studies were conducted in 14 African countries and used 23 different figure rating scales. These 23 scales were developed in: USA or Australia: 39% (9/23); Europe: 35% (8/23); Africa: 26% (6/23). A description of each scale is provided including: (a) number of images, (b) sex (ie, women only, men only or both women and men), (c) silhouette orientation (ie, frontal only or frontal and lateral views), (d) population used to develop the scale and (e) the African country which used each scale.; Conclusions: Using this review, investigators can optimise their choice of an existing figure rating scale or use the information as background to build a new one.; (Copyright © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2025. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. Published by BMJ Group.) |
| Competing Interests: | None declared. |
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| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: Epidemiology; Public Health; Scoping Review; Sociodemographic Factors |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20251223 Date Completed: 20251223 Latest Revision: 20251225 |
| Update Code: | 20260130 |
| PubMed Central ID: | PMC12718577 |
| DOI: | 10.1136/bmjph-2025-002970 |
| PMID: | 41431614 |
| Database: | MEDLINE |
Journal Article