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Meakin, Sophie (2024) Body image and low weight experiences of middle-aged Black women living in the UK: an interpretative phenomenological analysis. Doctoral thesis, London Metropolitan University.
Background:
The majority of research conducted has focused on the negative effects of "fat shaming" on overweight women’s mental health. However, in recent years, thin women have shared their experiences of low weight commenting, which is often similar to the dialogue of teasing and negative comments received by their fellow full-figured peers. Thin, Black women who have experienced acculturation are particularly prone to this due to discrepancies between cultures. Additionally, the majority of this research has focused on young women, with middle-aged women’s experiences been overlooked. This study addresses the gap by looking at the experiences of middle-aged Black women in relation to low weight commenting and body image.
Design and method:
Verbatim accounts of six semi-structured interviews with middle-aged Black women were analysed using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA).
Findings:
Three group experiential themes (GET) emerged: "Navigating societal expectations - the burden of external judgements", "Psychological resonance and adaptive strategies - coping with low weight commentary", and "A desire for recognition and compassion - envisioning empathy and social support". There were nine personal experiential themes (PET), with three in each GET.
Conclusion:
The study findings echo the findings of published literature on weightism and body image, while offering new insights into the overlooked impact of low weight-related comments on social behaviour and relationships. It underscores the need for culturally informed therapeutic approaches and calls for further research on acculturation and the long-term effects of low weight commenting to enhance interventions and support systems for affected individuals.
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