The purposes of this study were: (1) to describe the influence of cultural, social, and individual variables on African American women's perceptions related to weight; (2) to explore the relationships among cultural, social, and personal physical variables that may influence African American women's perceptions of weight; and (3) to test an exploratory model of weight perception for African American women. Further understanding of cultural, social, and personal aspects of weight perception will serve as a foundation for the future design of culturally sensitive and effective interventions for weight management in African American women.

The conceptual for the study included cultural variables (body image/standards of perceived physical attractiveness and perceived body size of self and others); social variables (perceived social support, occupation, income, and education); individual variables (age, standard indicators of obesity (BMI), and actual weight) as potential predictors of weight perception, views of ideal body weight, and of own body shape.

The study had two phases. Phase I utilized focus groups to explore the cultural context in which African American women viewed the different aspects of weight, i.e. "normal weight", "overweight", "underweight", and "obesity". Inner and outward attributes of physical attractiveness and body image were described by the focus groups which consisted of 55 African American women. Data obtained from the groups were content analyzed and used to refine a researcher developed tool, the Gore Self-Perception of Ideal Body Weight Scale.

In Phase II, 162 African American women age 18 to 85 were surveyed using the Gore Self-Perception of Ideal Body Weight Scale. Psychometric and principal components analyses resulted in revisions of the subscales. Content validity and internal consistency were documented. Findings suggested that African American women had their own individual standards for "weight" and were influenced by most of the cultural, social, and personal factors in the model.