Seven out of ten women claim to have dieted to lose weight "at least once in their lives" in the Canary Islands, as collected by the survey of the 'Canary Islands Institute of Equality'. A study that deals with the "aesthetic violence and fatphobia suffered by women in the Canary Islands."
The survey clearly reflects that "7 out of 10 women" have done a diet to lose weight "at least once in their lives", 1786 women out of the total number of women surveyed have stated. When asked about the age at which they started their first diet, 53.1% of the answers indicate that it was as a child or teenager, while 30% did it between the ages of 18 and 25; 12.1% from 26 to 40 years old; and 4.8% after 40 years old.
The reasons given for starting the process of a weight loss diet are diverse, among the three main reasons are: medical recommendation (31.7%), family pressure (30%) and social networks, magazines and media in general (17.6%). But they also mention other reasons, although to a lesser extent: social pressure from friends and sports environments (professional and non-professional), bullying or school harassment, pregnancy, menopause and issues strictly related to health, such as diabetes, hypertension, skin problems, hypothyroidism and food intolerances.
When asked if they identify social pressure on women's bodies in order to comply with beauty stereotypes (aesthetic pressure), women respond forcefully yes. In total, 2409 women answered affirmatively (97.3%) to this question.
Eating Behavior Disorders
Of the women surveyed, a total of 416 (16.8%) declared "to have or have had" an Eating Behavior Disorder (EBD). Regarding the type of disorder, 190 women specified having suffered from bulimia, 123 anorexia, 52 binge eating disorder, 20 orthorexia, six unspecified disorders, two avoidance and restriction disorders and another 23 combined different types of the aforementioned disorders.
Regarding ages, of the women who answered affirmatively to suffer or have suffered an Eating Behavior Disorder, 22 were minors; 644 were in the range of 18 to 30 years old; 1087 in the range of 31 to 45 years old; 671 in the range of 46 and 60 years old; and nine of them were over 60 years old. Taking into account the population participating in each age group, women between 31 and 45 years of age are the ones who have most often suffered from these disorders.
When asked about the reasons or influences regarding their suffering from Eating Behavior Disorder, 276 (66.3%) responses referred to social pressure, 238 (57.2%) to negative comments from others about their bodies, 74 (17.8%) to school bullying, 74 (17.8%) to the family context, 14 (3.4%) to relationships with partners or ex-partners, and 69 (16.6%) referred to other types of influences such as stress problems, anxiety, medical pressure, confinement due to COVID-19 and their participation in sports, gyms and classical dance.
Only one in ten women has liked her body "constantly"
In addition, of the women surveyed, only one in ten recognizes having liked her body "constantly", adding that five out of ten have liked her body during "her whole life."
Regarding their current relationship with their body, the respondents answered that 7.8% "love their body as it is", 193 women (7.8%), "I am dissatisfied, I would change many things" 852 women (34.4%); "I feel rejection or hatred for my body, I have a conflict with my physical appearance", 141 women (5.7%). "I live my body in a neutral way", 402 women (16.2%); "I would change few things, I am satisfied", 887 women (35.8%).
Regarding body image, 716 women stated that they were satisfied with their weight (28.9%), 66.1% of the women surveyed (1637 women) indicated that they would be better off with less weight, while to a lesser extent, 112 consider that they would be better off with more weight (4.9%). A conclusion that is striking, taking into account that within the 1637 respondents who indicate that they would be better off with less weight, 21.8% are thin women, the study reveals.
Survey data
The survey carried out in 30 days, from February 9 to March 10 and which received a total of "2795 valid responses" of which "2475 corresponded to women", indicate in their results. It has been carried out on women under 18 years of age (4.9%), 553 in the range of 18 and 30 years of age (22.3%), 1002 people between 31 and 45 years of age (40.5%), 618 people between 46 and 60 years of age (25%) and 180 people of 64 years of age (2.6%) from Lanzarote.
During the study, many issues related to the body image that women have of their weight, the social pressure that exists on their bodies, the Eating Behavior Disorders that may arise and the discrimination due to their weight in the labor and health fields, among others, have been collected.
