According to the Body Image Report 2013 by WhyFive, whites have the least healthy body self-image whereas blacks are the most comfortable with their physical appearance.
The vainest are white women, according to the survey .
About 1210 people, with an average monthly household income of about R10000, were asked to complete a 20-minute online questionnaire.
It was hoped that the results would help the fashion, health and beauty industries in their marketing campaigns.
Aspects taken into consideration included consumption of alcohol and red meat, smoking, the use of nutritional supplements and dieting.
The majority of those surveyed were married with children and most (34%) between 35 and 49.
Just over half (55%) of the respondents agreed that they felt good if they looked good, but white women (69%) were especially prone to agreeing to this statement. The people least likely to agree with this statement were black men (64%).
White females (87%) were the most likely to diet and black males (41%) the least.
Only 7% of the total sample had gone under the knife to improve their looks - but white women were the most likely to consider cosmetic surgery, and black men the least.
Men (39%) were more likely to feel happy with their health than females (27%).
Of the 18% who were smokers, most were black men. According to the responses, 10% drank daily, especially white men.
The report said: "It's noteworthy that [in the media] the "official body" is predominantly pale.
"This is the most likely reason why white people have such poor body images compared to their black counterparts."
WhyFive director Stuart Lowe said yesterday: "Generally, white people are subjected to a European construct - skinny and unobtainable - that black people either don't care about or have not necessarily been exposed to."
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