Differences in Breast Cancer Screening Rates according to Obesity and Weight Perception among Korean Women

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study was performed to elucidate whether the obesity or body image is a barrier to breast screening compliance in Korean women. METHODS: We included 54,017 women aged between 35 to 70 years from the Korea Community Health Survey (KCHS) 2014 dataset. To identify whether a mutual relationship exists between weight perceptions and breast cancer screening rates, the participants were divided into three groups according to the level of concordance between Body Mass Index (BMI) and a subjective body image. Descriptive analyses, a chi-square test, and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: After covariate adjustment, the screening rate of the overweight group was 1.09 times higher than the normal weight group (odds ratio [OR], 1.09; confidence interval [CI], 0.00–0.16; p=.038) and the severe obesity group was 1.20 times lower (OR, 0.83; CI, −0.36–0.00; p=.047). Weight misperception also had a significant influence on breast cancer screening. Especially, The overweight distortion group was less likely to undergo breast cancer screening (OR, 0.93; CI, −0.15–0.00; p=.037). CONCLUSION: Obesity and weight misperceptions are associated with lower compliance with breast cancer screening guidelines.