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To be thin but not healthy - The body-image dilemma may affect health among female university students in China

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  • Lei Zhang
  • Haihong Qian
  • Hua Fu

Abstract

An increasing number of young girls have attached great importance to their body-image in China. Body-image dissatisfaction has resulted in increased weight loss behavior. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors that were associated with underweight body-image in female college students. Self-administered questionnaires were completed by 2,023 young female participants from eight Chinese universities. In addition, 160 participants were involved in a qualitative study. The ideal body-image and the factors that influence weight were determined using descriptive and analytical statistics. We found that 1,484 out of 2,023 participants (73.36%) had taken action to lose weight in the past six months. Among these participants, 618 (30.55%, out of 2023) participants were already underweight, and 1,161 (57.39%, out of 2023) would like to be much thinner, which would lead to more underweight individuals. Moreover, non-scientific physical activity and diets were found to lead participants to the underweight subgroup. The participants’ Body Mass Index (BMI), peer advice and western culture influenced the problematic thin-ideal (ideal BMI

Suggested Citation

  • Lei Zhang & Haihong Qian & Hua Fu, 2018. "To be thin but not healthy - The body-image dilemma may affect health among female university students in China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(10), pages 1-14, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0205282
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0205282
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