IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v16y2019i9p1541-d227501.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Body Mass Index Perception, Body Image Dissatisfaction and Their Relations with Weight-Related Behaviors among University Students

Author

Listed:
  • Hadia Radwan

    (Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Health Sciences, Sharjah Institute for Medical Research (SIMR), University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates)

  • Hayder A. Hasan

    (Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Health Sciences, Sharjah Institute for Medical Research (SIMR), University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates)

  • Haneen Ismat

    (Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Health Sciences, Sharjah Institute for Medical Research (SIMR), University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates)

  • Hala Hakim

    (Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Health Sciences, Sharjah Institute for Medical Research (SIMR), University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates)

  • Hiba Khalid

    (Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Health Sciences, Sharjah Institute for Medical Research (SIMR), University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates)

  • Leen Al-Fityani

    (Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Health Sciences, Sharjah Institute for Medical Research (SIMR), University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates)

  • Rawand Mohammed

    (Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Health Sciences, Sharjah Institute for Medical Research (SIMR), University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates)

  • Alzahraa Ayman

    (Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Health Sciences, Sharjah Institute for Medical Research (SIMR), University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates)

Abstract

The prevalence of obesity is increasing globally and is linked with poor body image perception. The aim of the present study was to identify the relationships of body image (BI) and body mass index (BMI) with weight control practices among university students. A cross-sectional study on a sample of 308 university students (150 males and 158 females) aged between 18 and 25 years was carried out. Face-to-face interviews were conducted based on a questionnaire that included socio-demographic, physical activity, the Figure Rating Scale (FRS) and body image dissatisfaction (BID) questions. The majority of the participants ( 81%: 58.2% females and 41.8% males) were dissatisfied with their BI. Females desired to lose weight and preferred diet to exercise, while males desired to gain weight and preferred exercise to diet ( p < 0.001). About 56%, 39.5%, and 4.5% of the participants were normal, overweight/obese, and underweight, respectively. There was a significant, strong correlation ( R 2 = 0.84, p < 0.001) between perceived BMI and actual BMI. Actual BMI showed a significant strong correlation with the BID ( r = 0.57, p < 0.001). The results highlighted the need to increase awareness of the importance of healthy eating behaviors and regular physical activities to improve body size, shape perception, and satisfaction among college males and females.

Suggested Citation

  • Hadia Radwan & Hayder A. Hasan & Haneen Ismat & Hala Hakim & Hiba Khalid & Leen Al-Fityani & Rawand Mohammed & Alzahraa Ayman, 2019. "Body Mass Index Perception, Body Image Dissatisfaction and Their Relations with Weight-Related Behaviors among University Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-11, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:9:p:1541-:d:227501
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/9/1541/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/9/1541/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Carolina G. Coelho & Luana Giatti & Maria D. C. B. Molina & Maria A. A. Nunes & Sandhi M. Barreto, 2015. "Body Image and Nutritional Status Are Associated with Physical Activity in Men and Women: The ELSA-Brasil Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-18, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Chee-Seng Tan & Siew-May Cheng & Chin Wen Cong & Afi Roshezry Bin Abu Bakar & Edwin Michael & Mohamad Iqbaal Bin Mohd Wazir & Muliyati Binti Mat Alim & Bazlin Darina Binti Ahmad Tajudin & Nor Ez-Zatul, 2021. "Validation and Measurement Invariance of the Body Appreciation Scale-2 between Genders in a Malaysian Sample," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-9, November.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Cristina Bouzas & Maria del Mar Bibiloni & Josep A. Tur, 2019. "Relationship between Body Image and Body Weight Control in Overweight ≥55-Year-Old Adults: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-28, May.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:9:p:1541-:d:227501. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.