Final answer:
Pacific Islander cultures have historically found a fuller figured body more attractive, reflecting the cultural influences on perceptions of ideal body sizes. This contrasts with Western standards where slenderness is often valorized, contributing to higher rates of eating disorders in these cultures.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question, "______ people find a fuller figured body more attractive, demonstrating the effect of culture in the perception of ideal body size," asks us to identify which culture has a preference for a fuller figured body. This implies the significance of cultural factors on the perception of ideal body sizes and the related attractiveness attributed to people based on those perceptions. While Australian, Scandinavian, and European cultures may demonstrate different trends, it is the Pacific Islander culture that has been historically known to find a fuller figure more attractive.
These preferences can be contextualized by looking at cultural ideals which vary greatly across different societies. For example, in certain West African societies, a larger derrière is seen as a sign of health and fertility, which is culturally attractive. However, in places like Japan, preferences veer towards slenderness due to different agricultural and religious histories. This shows how longstanding regional standards for physical attractiveness and indigenous culture can shape societal norms and definitions of beauty.
In contrast, the prevalence of eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia nervosa amongst dancers, athletes, and in Western cultures underscores the pressure to conform to a slender body ideal. The proliferation of images of extremely thin models in media also contributes to this phenomenon, as does the assimilation of Western culture in various regions such as some Pacific Islands, which often diminishes focus on traditional cultural aesthetics.