Weight Loss or Obesity: How Body Image is Associated with Body Mass Index among Iranian Adolescents?

Document Type : Empirical Studies

Authors

Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

10.22034/mhrp.2023.393271.1019

Abstract

Body image satisfaction is a factor influencing adolescents’ health, however, there is a lack of research in this field on Iranian adolescents. This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between body image dissatisfaction and real nutritional status among 450 Iranian adolescents (male (n = 214) and female (n = 236)) from 10 randomly selected schools in Tehran. Measurement instruments included a demographic questionnaire and the Stunkard's Figure Rating Scale. Data on height and weight were collected using standard techniques. BMI was calculated and converted into a Z-score of BMI/age. Overweight and obesity were diagnosed by the 2007 WHO cut-off points according to age and gender. Female adolescents had a significantly higher prevalence of overweight whereas male adolescents showed a higher prevalence of obesity. Examining adolescents' perceptions about their overweight and obesity based on their responses to body image scale showed that they tend to underestimate the prevalence of overweight and obesity in themselves when compared to their real status. 68.1% of male adolescents and 68.6% of female adolescents were dissatisfied with their body image, while 35.5% and 42.8% of them would like to gain weight, respectively. The rate of body image discrepancy tended to be greater in female compared to male adolescents. Altogether, non-normal weight school adolescents found to be more dissatisfied with their body image. These findings highlight the necessity to improve public health policies in this issue.

Keywords

Weight Loss or Obesity: How Body Image is Associated with Body Mass Index among Iranian Adolescents? © 2023 by Mansooreh Sadat Mojani-Qomi; Monireh Hatami; Parisa Ziarati is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 

Mental Health: Research and Practice
Volume 2, Issue 1
January 2023
Pages 19-26

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History

  • Receive Date: 15 April 2022
  • Revise Date: 29 August 2022
  • Accept Date: 18 November 2022

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