Trends in body image of adolescent females in metropolitan and non-metropolitan regions: a longitudinal study

Abstract

BackgroundBody dissatisfaction is associated with a range of adverse outcomes, including impaired psychological health, low physical activity and disordered eating. This longitudinal study used the Factors Influencing Transitions in Girls’ Active Leisure and Sport (FITGALS) dataset to examine trends in body image of adolescent females. Specifically, the study examined satisfaction with body size, physical appearance and dieting behaviour for two cohorts at transitional life phases in two geographic regions longitudinally over a 3-year period.MethodsA sample of 732 adolescent females in Grade 7 (n = 489, 66.8 %) and Grade 11 (n = 243, 33.2 %) at randomly selected Australian metropolitan and non-metropolitan secondary schools responded to a questionnaire in three successive years from 2008 to 2010. Participants reported perceptions about their body size and physical appearance and whether they were, or ought to be, on a diet. The data were analysed using a series of longitudinal logistic regression models.ResultsDieting and dissatisfaction with body size significantly increased over time and more so for older than younger girls. Region significantly moderated the effect of grade level regarding dissatisfaction with body size but not dieting. In non-metropolitan regions, those in the younger cohort were significantly more likely to be dissatisfied with their body size than the older cohort; whereas in metropolitan regions, those in the older cohort were significantly more likely to be dissatisfied with their body size than the younger cohort. Adolescent female’s perceptions of their appearance were unchanged over time, region and grade level.ConclusionsDifferences across time, region and grade level were found among adolescent females on body size and dieting behaviour, but not physical appearance. Adolescent females experience early and increasing body size dissatisfaction and dieting as they age, but stable perceptions of physical appearance. Age and geographic region are important considerations for the timing and targeting of interventions to address body image concerns. Further investigation of regional differences in body image perceptions and factors that affect these is warranted. The findings of this study highlight the ongoing need for strategies during adolescence to promote a healthy appreciation of body size and appearance.

Attitudes towards body weight dissatisfaction associated with adolescents’ perceived health and sleep (PeNSE 2015)

“…Resumo Este estudo teve como objetivo investigar se as atitudes em relação à insatisfação com o peso corporal (PC) estão associadas à saúde percebida e ao comprometimento do sono em uma amostra de base populacional de Adolescence is characterized by a period in which many changes occur, considering that the person undergoes many biological and psychosocial adjustments, such as alterations in body proportion and body image distortion 1,2 . As a consequence, an increase in the levels of stress and reduced sleep quality due to poor psychological status is observed [3][4][5][6] .…”

“…Psychological health-related difficulties have been observed in the literature as a consequence of the exposure to a set of psychological concerns, such as body dissatisfaction 7 . It is observed that adolescents experience high levels of dissatisfaction with body weight 1,8 , signaling important health risks for this population 9 .…”

“…The emphasis on physical appearance and the way that the individual visualizes his or her own weight (negative perception) is associated with psychological concerns 7 . This negative perception appears as the adolescent is non-compliant to socially valued beauty standards, which results in maladaptive outcomes 1,11 . On the other hand, it is observed that these concerns do not seem to represent motivational incentives to adopt positive health behaviors in daily life; rather, it is suggested that high levels of dissatisfaction are related to poorer health status 12,13 , such as impaired sleep 3,14 .…”

What Historical Ideals of Women's Shapes Teach Us About Women's Self-Perception and Body Decisions Today

“…2,3,4,5 Another study found that, over time, more girls consider themselves to be "too fat," with slightly more older girls than younger girls reporting feeling too fat (45.5% v 40.9%). 6 The study also found that girls increasingly dieted as they grew older. 6 Statistics like the above prompt us to wonder: How did we get here?…”

“…6 The study also found that girls increasingly dieted as they grew older. 6 Statistics like the above prompt us to wonder: How did we get here? Why do we have a global epidemic of poor body image among children as young as five years old?…”