Personal (Self) Perceptions of Submental Fat Among Adults in the United States

BACKGROUND Satisfaction with discrete facial areas influences self-perceptions of attractiveness, self-esteem, and quality of life. Currently, there is a lack of understanding of how the submental area impacts feelings and behaviors. OBJECTIVE To characterize the effects of submental fat (SMF) on feelings/emotions and actions/behavior among adults in the United States. METHODS Online health-based surveys recruited approximately 400 adults (18–65 years) in each of 5 categories based on the respondent's assessment of their SMF. Respondents either agreed or disagreed with 17 statements regarding their feelings/emotions and actions/behaviors related to the area underneath their chin. RESULTS Overall, 1996 respondents were included (equal distribution of males/females; mean age, 41.9 years). Even a slight amount of chin fat was associated with negative feelings and behaviors. As SMF increased, so did the number of respondents reporting negative self-perceptions such as being embarrassed by the area under their chin. In general, a greater percentage of female compared with male respondents reported negative feelings and behavioral changes due to their submental area. CONCLUSION Excess SMF can have a substantial negative effect on a person's feelings of attractiveness and behaviors. Reduction of SMF may not only improve one's appearance, but also may enhance one's self-esteem.

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