Associations of Body Dissatisfaction With Lifestyle Behaviors and Socio-Demographic Factors Among Saudi Females Attending Fitness Centers

Abstract

ObjectiveTo examine body image perception and the associations of body dissatisfaction (BD) with socio-demographic and lifestyle factors among Saudi women attending fitness centers in Riyadh.MethodsSaudi females aged 16 years and older were recruited from 12 randomly selected fitness centers in Riyadh, using stratified clustered sampling technique (n = 460). Height and weight were measured to calculate actual body mass index (BMI). A previously validated instrument was used to collect socio-demographic and lifestyle variables including physical activity (PA), sedentary behaviors, sleep and dietary habits. Stunkard Figure Rating Scale silhouettes were used to assess perceived and desired body shape.ResultsThe participants had a mean (SD) age of 29.2 (8.2). The majority were not married (57%), with no children (66%) and had college degrees (78%). While 63% were overweight or obese, nearly 40% of women underestimated their perceived body shape. The majority of respondents (87%) were dissatisfied with their body shape including 68% of normal weight women. Females who had BD were significantly older, had higher BMI, reported more weight loss attempt and had expended less time in vigorous (p = 0.033) and total (p = 0.042) PA than those who were satisfied with their body shape. However, when adjusting for socio-demographic variables, logistic regression analysis revealed significant associations of BD with higher BMI, shorter membership duration of fitness club, and reduced dairy products and energy drinks consumption.ConclusionExcept for BMI and decreased dairy products and energy drinks consumption, many lifestyle behaviors did not associate with BD among Saudi females attending fitness centers. The findings can inform healthcare providers when intervention strategy is implicated for females with BD. Future studies should compare the associations of BD with lifestyle behaviors between males and females attending fitness centers and seeking weight loss.

Factors Associated With Body Image Satisfaction Among Palestinian University Female Students, Cross-Sectional Study

“…Those who have been on a diet to lose weight or for therapeutic reasons had signi cantly lower body satisfaction scores than those who dieted for "other reasons". Similar to our ndings, a Saudi study reported that weight loss attempts were signi cantly associated with higher body dissatisfaction among women (Albawardi et al, 2021). Also an Emeriti study found that the percentage of body dissatis ed female university students and had been on a diet were higher than those who are satis ed with their bodies.…”

“…Similarly, a study found that 87% of Saudi women attending tness centers were dissatis ed with their body shape (Albawardi et al, 2021). This difference might be caused by the difference in age group, as the Jordanian study reported that older women desired more weight change (Madanat et al, 2011), and older Saudi women had higher body dissatisfaction (Albawardi et al, 2021).…”

“…And overweight students had higher body satisfaction levels than obese ones. This was also seen in Saudi women, where those with higher BMI had a signi cantly higher level of body image dissatisfaction (Albawardi et al, 2021;Aljadani, 2019). Likewise, Emirati studies reported that higher BMI was signi cantly related to higher body dissatisfaction for both women and men (Alharballeh & Dodeen, 2021;Radwan et al, 2019).…”

“…Those who are not physically active had lower body satisfaction levels than students who are regularly and irregularly active. Similarly, More body-satis ed women were more physically active than those who were dissatis ed with their bodies in Saudi (Albawardi et al, 2021) and Emirati studies (Radwan et al, 2019).…”

“…Daily phone hours were signi cantly correlated with body satisfaction score (r = .011, p < .01). Likewise, screen time was signi cantly correlated to perceived body image (r = 0.108, p = 0.032) in Saudi women (Albawardi et al, 2021).…”