Why Women Think Too Small

If you're a typical woman, you're larger than you want to be. You have in mind both an ideal weight and an ideal dress size for yourself, both currently beyond your reach.

That's what was found in a new survey I helped design, conducted by Yankelovich and sponsored by Slim-Fast. The survey of 2,000 women focused on an issue of "growing" importance: the psychology of size.

In short, size matters-and maybe even more than you realize. With sensitivity about body image at a peak, this research is particularly timely. Among the highlights related to women:

• More than three-fourths (78 percent) are larger than they want to be.

• More than half (56 percent) want to be a size 8 or smaller (even though the average size for an American woman is a size 14).

• They would need to lose an average of 38 pounds to reach what they consider an ideal size.

The survey reinforces certain long-held beliefs about women's self-image, particularly about how a woman's size influences her behavior. For example, a woman self-conscious about being larger than she wishes may avoid certain standard activities (of those, 65 percent avoid going to the beach or pool, and 42 percent avoid shopping for clothes).

My favorite statistic from the survey: Seventy-four percent agree you can wear a large size and still "feel good about yourself."

Here, then, is the most practical advice I can offer you- develop realistic weight-loss goals. Only then will you be likely to find the weight right for you.

By: Wendy Mitchell

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

To learn more about dieting, visit www.slimfast.com. Dr. Denise Martz is a clinical psychologist, professor and expert on body image. Martz