Body Shape Dissatisfaction, Weight Status and Physical Activity among a Sample University Students in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of body shape dissatisfaction, weight and physical activity status among university students and predictors for body shape dissatisfaction. A cross sectional study was carried out in a sample comprising of 368 female and male university students aged 18 years or more at King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia. Body weight, height, Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ) and physical activity level were used as assessment tools. Chi-square and independent sample T-test were used to assess gender difference. Linear regression analysis was conducted to examine predictors of the body shape dissatisfaction. Overall, 65% of students had normal BMI, more males then females overweight (23%), while more females underweight (16.8%). Females have higher body shape dissatisfaction (33.5%) then males (21.4%), half of males inactive and this percentage increased in females to (73.8%). Overweight males were more dissatisfied with their body shape (10.7%) than females (6.3%). Almost one fifth of inactive males dissatisfied comparable to quarter inactive females dissatisfied with their body shape. Younger age is predictor for body shape dissatisfaction in both genders, also weight in males. BMI and being married female was predictor for body shape dissatisfaction. Collectively results indicate that body shape dissatisfaction and inactive lifestyle were prevalent among females than male’s age, weight; BMI and marital status was the most predictor for body shape dissatisfaction. However developing educational program to promote body shape satisfaction and active lifestyle will be very useful especially among females

Body Mass Index Perception, Body Image Dissatisfaction and Their Relations with Weight-Related Behaviors among University Students

“…Previous research reported that overweight perception is a cognitive barrier to physical activity among women and men with excess weight [45]. In contrast to our findings, a study among university students in Saudi Arabia reported that no significant difference was found between body shape satisfaction and physical activity status among the students [46]. Hence, higher education institutes provide a good opportunity to reach a large number of students and to encourage healthy eating behaviors and proper weight perceptions.…”

Body Size Misperception and Overweight or Obesity among Saudi College-Aged Females

“…Another study in Eastern Saudi Arabia that used the Body Shape Questionnaire and included 368 female and male students from King Faisal University revealed that only 9.4% of females with overweight plus obesity were dissatisfied with their body shape. Interestingly, the study showed that more females in the normal weight were dissatisfied (22.7%) with their body shape [ 32 ]. Furthermore, the majority of the Saudi women attending gymnasium classes in the city of Hail in Northern Saudi Arabia identified their own body shape as being overweight, but they chose the “normal weight” figures as the image they wanted to look like [ 42 ].…”

“…In addition, earlier reports on body size perceptions among young women from an urban health center in eastern Saudi Arabia showed that a substantial proportion of them either overestimated (28.6%) or underestimated (28.9%) their actual body weight [ 31 ]. However, due to recent globalization and adoption of western lifestyle and eating behaviors by many developing countries including Saudi Arabia and neighboring Gulf States, the attitudes towards body weight and weight perception may have changed, shifting to a preference for thin body size [ 14 , 32 , 33 ]. Understanding different factors that promote body satisfaction across racial and ethnic groups is an important tool that may facilitate adopting healthy lifestyle behaviors, improve effective obesity prevention interventions, and prevent body weight dissatisfaction and eating disorders.…”

The Pattern of Fruit and Vegetable Consumption among Saudi University Students

“…Previous research has been well documented the impact of low fruit and vegetable consumption on BMI and show that the less fruits and vegetables in adults diet cause to be overweight or obese ( Bates et al, 2008 ; Davis et al, 2006 ), our results found that <5 servings /day group had overweight mean of BMI and almost one fifth of students were in overweight category comparable to ≥5 servings/day group were 80% of them in the normal BMI category. Overall young female students usually worried about their body shape ( AL-Otaibi et al, 2013 ), and that explain why obesity and overweight did not prevalent among the groups.…”