Comparative Analyses across different BMI groups of Turkish Women: Disordered Eating, Body Appreciation, and Physical Appearance Comparison

Aim: This study compared disordered eating, body appreciation, and physical appearance comparison across four BMI groups (underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese) among Turkish women. Method: A total of 385 women aged 18 to 65 completed the Eating Disorders Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q), Body Appreciation Scale (BAS), and Physical Appearance Comparison Scale-Revised (PACS-R). Data Analyses: One-way ANOVA was used to compare scores among BMI groups, followed by Bonferroni post-hoc tests for significant results (p < .05). Results: The One-Way ANOVA showed significant differences in EDE-Q scores (F (3, 381) = 22.41, p < .001), with overweight and obese groups reporting higher symptoms than underweight and normal weight groups. BAS scores also differed significantly (F (3, 381) = 8.76, p < .001), with lower body appreciation in the overweight and obese groups. No significant differences were found for PACS-R scores (F (3, 381) = 2.86, p = .037). Conclusion: A higher BMI is linked to increased disordered eating and reduced body appreciation, but physical appearance comparisons do not vary significantly. These findings emphasize the need for interventions addressing weight stigma and promoting body positivity among Turkish women Keywords: Body Mass Index, Disordered eating, Body appreciation, Appearance comparison, Group comparisons