Figure rating scales used in sub-Saharan africa for body image assessment: a scoping review

Body image is integral to culture and influences health behaviour. In sub-Saharan African countries, body image preference is in flux. To facilitate research on attitudes about body size in Africans, our goal was to provide a central resource of the figure rating scales which have previously been used in African countries.

A scoping review was conducted.

Five databases were accessed: PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Global Health Database and African Index Medicus.

(1) Study conducted in a sub-Saharan African country; (2) used a figure rating scale to assess body image; (3) enrolled adults; (4) published in English between 1983 and 12 April 2024.

842 articles were flagged, and 63 articles identified as appropriate for inclusion.

These 63 studies were conducted in 14 African countries and used 23 different figure rating scales. These 23 scales were developed in: USA or Australia: 39% (9/23); Europe: 35% (8/23); Africa: 26% (6/23). A description of each scale is provided including: (a) number of images, (b) sex (ie, women only, men only or both women and men), (c) silhouette orientation (ie, frontal only or frontal and lateral views), (d) population used to develop the scale and (e) the African country which used each scale.

Using this review, investigators can optimise their choice of an existing figure rating scale or use the information as background to build a new one.