Relationship between body image, body dissatisfaction and weight status in Iranian adolescents

Abstract

Background: In current society adolescents are concerned about body image. The relationship between body dissatisfaction and obesity is not clear in developing countries. This study sought to describe body image size perception and dissatisfaction, and their relationship with body weight status in adolescents. Methods: Objective measures of weight and height were undertaken on 1109 schoolchildren aged 10-18 (504 girls and 605 boys). BMI z-scores, and weight status were calculated based on the 2007 WHO growth reference charts. Figure rating scales were used to assess perceptions of current and ideal body size and dissatisfaction difference between these perceptions. Multivariate analyses were used to assess the relationship between the perceptions and dissatisfaction with body weight status. Results: Perceived body image size was positively associated with weight status (partial regression coefficient for overweight/obese vs non-overweight/obese was 0.63 (95% CI 0.26-0.99) and for BMI z-score was 0.21 (95% CI 0.10-0.31), adjusted for sex and age). Body dissatisfaction was also associated with weight status, with overweight and obese children more likely to select thinner ideal body size than healthy weight children (adjusted partial regression coefficient for overweight/obese vs non-overweight/ obese was 1.47 (95% CI 0.99-1.96) and for BMI z-score was 0.54 (95% CI 0.40-0.67)). Conclusions: Awareness of body image size and increasing body dissatisfaction with the higher weight status is established at a young age in this population. This needs to be considered when designing interventions to reduce obesity in young children, in terms of both benefits and harms.

Review of body image and some of contributing factors in Iranian population

“…[182126313536374345] Articles that have dealt with misperception about the body cited these cases up to 50%. [172225272839]…”

Perceptions of Body Image among Youth in a Selected University of Gurugram

“…2 The body image relates to the picture of our own body, which we form in our own mind. 3,5 Self-perception means attitude of people about themselves. 4 Adolescents are influenced by mass media, peer pressure, and beliefs.…”

“…Many studies have been done in developed countries, but less data is available in developing countries like India. 5 Also in many studies, only girls were included but fewer studies were conducted on boys. 5 Adolescents who perceive themselves as obese or fat may suffer from depression and anxiety.…”

“…5 Also in many studies, only girls were included but fewer studies were conducted on boys. 5 Adolescents who perceive themselves as obese or fat may suffer from depression and anxiety. Obesity or increase in body fat is also an important cause of many serious diseases so it is imp to know the relationship between obesity and self-esteem.…”

The Main Components of Body Image from the Perspectives of Iranian Adolescents: A Qualitative Study

“…Though extensively studied in Western societies, there is a gap in existing evidence qualitatively examining body image in Iranian adolescents. Most of the existing evidence on body image among Iranian adolescents has mainly focused on the prevalence of body dissatisfaction and its association with other variables using a quantitative approach [18][19][20][21][22]. Therefore, to the best of our knowledge there is no evidence which explored the main components of body image from the perspective of Iranian adolescents.…”