Abstract

MELO, Cristiane Magalhães de  and  OLIVEIRA, Djenane Ramalho de. The use of apetite inhibitors by women: an insight based on the gender perspective. Ciênc. saúde coletiva [online]. 2011, vol.16, n.5, pp. 2523-2532. ISSN 1413-8123.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1413-81232011000500022.

The scope of this study was to understand the motives that lead adult women to use appetite inhibitors and to establish, from a gender perspective, how these women relate to their own bodies. It was structured around the principles of qualitative research, and the methods of data collection were semi-structured interviews and direct observation. The informants were six women who used appetite inhibitors. The results indicated that images, publicity and social networks contribute significantly to the creation of new standards of physical appearance as well as lifestyles, which establish appearance (a slim body) and a happy marriage as the desired model. The slim body is represented as something able to alter the temperament of the individual, in other words a fat person is an unhappy person and a slim person is a happy person. The study shows that it is in the body per se that the social role destined for women is produced and reproduced.

Keywords : Body; Gender; Appetite suppressants; Femininity.