Women Frustrated When Weight Loss Does Not Change Body Shape

Women who expect to change the shape of their body by dieting may find maintaining their weight loss difficult due to their unrealistic expectations, according to researchers at the University of Strathclyde in the United Kingdom.

Prior research has shown that pear-shaped bodies (low waist to hip ratio) are considered more attractive by women.

Researchers developed a study to determine whether women with a higher waist-to-hip ratio expected dieting to change their body shape to a lower waist-to-hip ratio.

Women participating in the study who had higher waist-to-hip ratios said they believed that they could develop pear-shaped bodies by dieting. Their expectations did not come from their misperception of their current body shape, reported the researchers.

The frustration that women feel after losing weight but not seeing a change in their body shape may explain why so many have trouble maintaining their weight loss, according to the report in the International Journal of Eating Disorders.

Other sources: International Journal of Eating Disorders