Body image perception and body composition: assessment of perception inconsistency by a new index

Body Image Perception, Eating Habits, and Nutritional Status of Female University Students: A Case of Makerere University, Uganda

Background: Body image perceptions among young female adults significantly influence their quality of life, nutritional status, and wellbeing. Positive body image is characterized by high self-esteem and accepting one's body as is. This study assessed body image perception, eating habits, and nutritional status of female university students. Methodology: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among female students of Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda. Participants were recruited through convenience sampling. Anthropometry, body image perceptions, and eating habits were evaluated. Body image perceptions and eating habits were assessed using a questionnaire. Results: Majority of the respondents (68%) had normal weight, 25% were overweight, 4% were underweight, and 3% were obese. About half (51%) of the respondents were dissatisfied with their body weight and shape while 49% felt fat and had a strong desire to lose weight. About 69% of the respondents skipped meals and 69% snacked at least once a day. Conclusion: A big proportion of female students expressed dissatisfaction with their body image despite majority having normal weight status. Targeted mental health programs should be designed to help students deal with dissatisfaction and promote general wellbeing.

Sex-related perception of body image, attitude toward food, and nutritional status of university students, and their relationship with physical activity level

University life is a critical period for acquiring and consolidating healthy habits. This study examined the influence of sex on the body image perception, attitude toward food, nutritional status, and lifestyle habits of university students. This descriptive observational study included 163 university students from a program of Health Sciences. The data were collected with digitally distributed, self-administered questionnaires. Instruments such as the International Physical Activity Questionnaire were used to measure physical activity, the Eating Attitudes Test-26 to assess attitudes toward food, the Multidimensional Body Self Relations Questionnaire and Gardner's assessment for body image perception, and the Prevención con Dieta Mediterránea for adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Body composition was evaluated with an InBody 770 device. Most of the values found were within the appropriate range and not significant in practice, except in the Gardner test for women, where relevant values were found. Female participants demonstrated greater dissatisfaction with their body image and higher EAT-26 scores, indicating an increased risk for eating disorders. Male participants exhibited higher body mass index and physical activity levels. No significant differences were observed in adherence to the Mediterranean diet between the sexes. Correlations between the variables revealed that body dissatisfaction was associated with a higher percentage of body fat and visceral fat area in both sexes. Gender differences in body image perception and attitude toward food underscore the need for sex-specific interventions. Promoting a positive body image perception and healthy eating habits is essential for improving the physical and mental health of university students. Educational programs should consider these differences and emphasize the promotion of physical activity and adherence to balanced diets.

The effects of prune products consumption on anthropometric measurements and blood pressure in adults: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

The positive impact of prunes on body measurements and blood pressure has been suggested in previous research.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this extensive meta-analysis and systematic review was to examine the effects of adult consumption of prunes on anthropometric parameters and blood pressure.

METHODS

To identify relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) (till August 9th, 2024), databases from ISI Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed/Medline were searched. The current systematic review and meta-analysis covered 14 studies that met the eligibility requirements. The weighted mean difference was used to compute the effect size. The Cochrane Q test and I2 index were used to measure study heterogeneity. The random effects model was utilized to get the overall effect magnitude.

RESULTS

The meta-findings analysis's showed that eating prunes had no appreciable effects on, body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.267), waist circumference (WC) (p = 0.562), fat mass (FM) (p = 0.840), systolic blood pressure (SBP) (p = 0.338), or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (p = 0.233). However, we observed significantly reduction in body weight (p < 0.001) after prunes consumption.

CONCLUSION

Our findings showed that the consumption of prune leads to a significant reduction in body weight, but the results indicated non-significant effects on blood pressure, BMI, WC and FM.

Are Patients With Adult Traumatic Brachial Plexus Injuries Satisfied With Their Appearance?

PURPOSE

Adult traumatic brachial plexus injuries (tBPI) are devastating physically and emotionally. In addition to the physical loss of function and pervasive neuropathic pain, patients describe difficulty with negative self-image and social relationships. Our goal was to gain an initial understanding of body image and satisfaction with appearance among tBPI patients.

METHODS

Among 126 patients in a prospective cohort study, 60 completed a brachial plexus injury-specific modification of the Satisfaction with Appearance survey. The survey encompasses three major domains: social discomfort because of the affected limb, interference with relationships because of the affected limb, and appearance of the affected limb. We performed a cross-sectional descriptive analysis to provide an initial understanding of these domains among brachial plexus injury patients.

RESULTS

Among all 60 patients, nearly half (27/60, 45%) reported they are satisfied with their overall appearance. The appearance of their affected hand(s) was the body part with which patients expressed the most concern. Patients also reported feeling increasingly uncomfortable among those less familiar to them: 11/60 (18%) were uncomfortable around family, 18/60 (30%) were uncomfortable around friends, and 19/60 (32%) were uncomfortable around strangers. One-quarter (15/60, 25%) of brachial plexus injury patients agreed that their injury interfered with relationships and that their tBPI was unattractive (16/60, 27%) to others.

CONCLUSIONS

Almost half of patients who have experienced tBPI endorse dissatisfaction with their appearance, which can subsequently interfere with their personal relationships. Further, tBPI may influence patients' comfort levels in unfamiliar social surroundings and may influence how patients feel they are perceived by others.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

The patient's perception of their affected limb and its influence on their daily social interactions should be recognized by their tBPI care team, noting opportunities for improved counseling.

Body image perception and social support as predictors of psychological distress among third trimester pregnant women in Nigeria

BACKGROUND

Body image perception and social support during pregnancy can impact the psychological distress levels experienced by pregnant women. As a result, the purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between various components of social support and body image perception on psychological distress levels among pregnant women in their third trimester in Nigeria.

METHOD

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 246 pregnant women who were in the third trimester and attending selected health care facilities in Ogbomoso, a semiurban city in Oyo State, Nigeria. Body image perception, social support, and psychological distress scales were used to collect the data. Data were analyzed and summarized using descriptive and inferential statistics (ANOVA and multiple regression), with significance set at p < 0.05.

RESULTS

Regression analysis showed that 44% of the variation in psychological distress among pregnant women was explained by the background variables, marital status, body image perception, appraisal support, tangible support, belonging support, interaction between body image perception and appraisal support, belong support and tangible support.

CONCLUSION

Intervention programs focusing on bolstering tangible support, belonging support and appraisal support are recommended at reducing the psychological distress due to body image perception among pregnant women at third trimester.

The Impact of Sports Involvement on Body Image Perception and Ideals: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Concerns about body image may affect athletes, mainly because of specific sports models to achieve successful performance. This systematic review reports on body image dissatisfaction (BID) in athletes following the guidelines for systematic reviews and meta-analyses. From a total of 887 articles identified through a systematic search of electronic databases, 15 articles conducted on 2412 athletes were included in this review. To be eligible for inclusion, the studies must have been published in the last ten years up until September 2022 and analyze body image perception using body figure drawings and anthropometric profiles. The quality of the included studies was evaluated using the adapted Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for observational studies. These studies were compared through thematic analysis of BID to develop four general issues, including gender, sport type and level, and weight status. According to the meta-analyses, the significant medium and small effect sizes found for gender and weight status, respectively, indicated that male athletes had lower BID than females and that, among the latter, normal-weight athletes had a higher BID than underweight ones. The implications and limitations of the included studies are discussed extensively in this review, highlighting the need for further research on BID examined both in the social and the sports contexts. Sports activity should be carried out following healthy lifestyles, and promoting positive BI.

Changes in Body Composition and Motor Fitness of Young Female Volleyball Players in an Annual Training Cycle

BACKGROUND

Modern volleyball requires a high level of motor preparation, specific body build and optimal body composition.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to determine changes in body build, body composition and motor skills in young volleyball female players during an annual training cycle.

METHODS

The research group was comprised of 36 female athletes aged 14-16 years, who were monitored throughout a whole season using a longitudinal study design. Body composition was estimated by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Motor fitness was assessed with the following tests: vertical jumping tests (based on one-handed and two-handed reach, standing vertical jump and running vertical jump), standing long jump and 2 kg medicine ball throw. Measurements were carried out at the beginning of the preparatory period, after its completion, in the middle of the start period, at the end of the start period and during transition periods.

RESULTS

The study showed significant changes in body composition and motor fitness level during the annual training cycle. These changes differ in subsequent periods of the macrocycle. The most pronounced changes occurred after the preparatory period and concerned increases in fat-free mass, total water content and cell mass. A significant reduction in fat content was also noted at this point.

CONCLUSIONS

Systematic monitoring of morpho-functional changes in young female volleyball players over extended periods provides them a chance to maintain their optimal fitness level.

The Role of Social Media in Internalizing Body Knowledge-A Cross-Sectional Study among Women with Different Food Preferences

Virtual spaces, such as social media, give people a platform to exchange their opinions, experiences, and knowledge. Social media's ubiquitous usefulness has led to people relying, in whole or in part, on the information they learn online. As a result, a person's perception of his or her own body and their self-worth has started to be influenced by what other people think of them and by the information found on social media. Modern people's lifestyle, particularly their eating habits and exercise habits, exhibits a similar tendency. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationships occurring between factors related to the use and internalization of body image knowledge contained in social media and the factors shaping self-assessment and self-esteem in women following a vegetarian diet. An authority-validated questionnaire was used to determine the level of use and attitudes of respondents toward social media, e.g., SATAQ and BES. Associations about the potential negative impacts of the knowledge provided by social media on the development of body image and self-esteem were shown. It is interesting to observe that women who practice vegetarianism have less pressure on their appearance. This may be because vegetarianism is a lifestyle that is currently actively promoted online. Education is required on the connection between the use and internalization of social media knowledge and the development of healthy self-esteem and body evaluation.

Relationship between Attention to Body Shape, Social Physique Anxiety, and Personal Characteristics of Brazilians: A Structural Equation Model

People can develop eating disorders due to excessive body image concerns. The primary objective of this study was to examine the relationship between attention to body shape, social physique anxiety, and personal characteristics in a sample of Brazilians. The secondary objective was to evaluate the correlation of the constructs with the participants' body composition. First, 1795 individuals (70% female; M_age = 25.5 ± 6.6 years) completed the Attention to Body Shape Scale, the Social Physique Anxiety Scale, and a sociodemographic questionnaire. Then, 286 participants (58% female; M_age = 25.3 ± 5.7 years) underwent a bioimpedance exam to identify body composition. Structural equation modeling was used to estimate the relationship between the variables. The greater the attention to body shape, the greater the expectations of negative physical evaluation and the less comfort with physical presentation. Younger age, female gender, consumption of supplements/substances for body change, restrictive diets, physical inactivity, poor self-assessment of food quality, and overweight/obesity were related to negative body concerns. An expectation of negative physical evaluation was positively correlated with body fat and negatively with muscle mass. Comfort with physical presentation was negatively correlated with fat and positively with muscle. These results can support preventive strategies aimed at reducing eating disorders resulting from body image concerns.

Factors associated with body image perception of adolescents

This study aimed to confirm the status of body image perception by adolescents in South Korea and identify the associated factors using the data from the 14th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey (KYRBS) conducted in 2018. The KYRBS is a government-approved statistical survey performed annually and an anonymous self-administered online survey conducted in middle and high school students. The data for this study were downloaded from the KYRBS web site and analyzed through complex sample analysis. Body image distortion was found in 40.3% (under-perception 26.5%, over-perception 13.8%) of the boys and 39.7% (under-perception 14.4%, over-perception 25.3%) of the girls. The factors associated with body image distortion were school achievement, weight control, school, school type and exercise in school gym class in boys and school achievement, weight control, and economic status in girls. These results indicated that intervention programs for the accurate perception of body image should be provided to adolescents and these programs should consider gender difference in factors associated with adolescents' body image distortion.

Sex Differences in Body Image Perception and Ideals: Analysis of Possible Determinants

The study analyzed the differences between sexes in body image perception and body ideals to assess possible dissatisfaction and misinterpretation in the body image considered attractive for the other sex. Moreover, the influence of anthropometric traits and sports practice on body dissatisfaction and misjudgment was evaluated. Using a cross-sectional design, 960 Italian university students were investigated. Anthropometric characteristics were measured directly. Assessment of body image perception was performed using Thompson and Gray’s silhouettes. We developed two new indexes to assess the possible discrepancy between (1) the perceived silhouette of one’s body and that of the same sex deemed attractive to the other sex (FAD); (2) the silhouette is deemed attractive to the opposite sex and the average attractive silhouette selected by the opposite sex (AMOAD). As expected, females showed greater dissatisfaction with their bodies than males concerning both their own ideal and the silhouette they considered attractive to the opposite sex. Although both sexes misjudged the attractive silhouette for the opposite sex, women were found to be more wrong. According to the outcomes of multivariate regression models, stature, body composition parameters, amount of sport, sex, and FAD were significant predictors of dissatisfaction and misjudgment. In addition to action aimed at correcting misperceptions, the study revealed the importance of sports participation in improving the perception and acceptance of one’s body image.

A Comparison in Physical Fitness Attributes, Physical Activity Behaviors, Nutritional Habits, and Nutritional Knowledge Between Elite Male and Female Youth Basketball Players

Background: Limited evidence exists comprehensively assessing physical fitness attributes, physical activity behaviors, nutritional habits, and nutritional knowledge according to sex in basketball players during early adolescence. Insight of this nature could be used to optimize the training process and lifestyles in young basketball players. Objective: To compare physical fitness attributes, physical activity levels, nutritional habits, and nutritional knowledge between elite male and female basketball players under 14 years of age (U-14). Methods: Twenty-three U-14 basketball players (male, n = 13 and female, n = 10) from the same elite basketball academy (Spanish Asociación de Clubes de Baloncesto [ACB] League) participated in this study. Physical fitness attributes were assessed using a basketball-specific test battery (countermovement jump, drop jump, linear sprint, Lane Agility Drill, 505 change-of-direction, and repeated-change-of-direction tests), while physical activity levels (Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents, PAQ-A), nutritional habits (Turconi questionnaire), and nutritional knowledge (Turconi questionnaire) were assessed using questionnaires. Results: Male players exhibited better physical fitness in all tests (p <0.001 to 0.036, effect size = -0.44 to -0.76, intermediate to strong) compared to female players. Male players also performed more physical activity in their leisure time (p = 0.036) than females. No significant differences in nutritional habits and nutritional knowledge were evident between sexes (p > 0.05). Of note, a high proportion of players declared never or only sometimes eating fruit (males: 23%; females: 40%) and vegetables (males: 46%; females: 70%). In addition, relatively poor nutritional knowledge was evident in all players with the group correctly answering <50% of nutritional questions overall (4.57 ± 1.88 out of 11 points, 42%) and according to sex (males: 4.07 ± 2.10, 37%; females: 5.20 ± 1.40, 47%). Conclusion: These findings emphasize the necessity to perform individualized prescription of training stimuli across sexes to optimize the physical preparedness and development of youth basketball players. Additionally, strategies such as nutrition-focused education interventions may be necessary in this population given the low consumption of fruits and vegetables, as well as the poor nutritional knowledge observed in players.

Association between self-perceived body image and body composition between the sexes and different age classes

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between self-perceived body image and body composition in the sexes and in different age classes.

METHODS

The sample consisted of 632 young adults (238 men and 394 women; 22.8 ± 2.3 y of age), and 162 middle-aged and elderly adults (96 men and 66 women; 61.4 ± 7.6 y of age). The Williamson's figure scale was used to evaluate current body size. Anthropometric measurements (height, weight and waist, arm and calf circumferences) were taken, and body mass index was calculated. Specific bioelectrical impedance vector analysis was applied to evaluate body composition.

RESULTS

The findings suggest that in both age classes, current body size was positively correlated with weight, body mass index, and vector length, indicative of the percentage of fat mass, but not with phase angle, indicative of the intracellular/extracellular water ratio and a proxy of muscle mass. The association was similar between men and women, but clearer in women. Confidence ellipses confirmed the strong association between the silhouettes and adiposity.

CONCLUSION

The Williamson's figure scale silhouettes appear to be a suitable technique to screen for adiposity in epidemiologic studies and for routine applications.