Weight expectations, motivations for weight change and perceived factors influencing weight management in young Australian women: a cross-sectional study

Objective To examine young Australian women's weight expectations, motivations for weight change and perceived factors influencing weight management, and to determine if these factors differ by age, BMI, marital status, education or income. Design Cross-sectional study. An online survey captured respondents' weight, height, ideal weight, main reasons for wanting to change their weight and challenges to managing their weight. Setting Online survey in Australia. Subjects Six hundred and twenty women aged 18-30 years currently living in Australia who completed the survey between 31 July and 30 September 2012. Results Approximately half of participants (531 %) were a healthy weight, 252 % overweight and 190 % obese. Women unhappy at their current weight (781 %) reported a median ideal weight -123 % less than their current weight. The key motivators for weight change were to improve health (244 %, ranked 1), feel better in oneself (223 %) and improve self-confidence (215 %). Lack of motivation, time constraints because of job commitments and cost were the most commonly reported factors influencing weight management. Age, BMI, marital status, education and income were found to influence weight expectations, motivations for weight change and/or factors perceived to influence weight management. Conclusions The findings suggest potential implications for weight management interventions and public health messaging targeting young women, to improve long-term health outcomes. Strategies that promote the health benefits of physical activity and healthy eating, feeling better about oneself and improved self-confidence, and address the main factors influencing weight management including lack of motivation, time constraints and cost, may be used to engage this target group.