The association between body weight dissatisfaction with unhealthy eating behaviors and lack of physical activity in adolescents: A systematic review

Abstract

A systematic review examined the association between body weight dissatisfaction with unhealthy eating behaviors and lack of physical activity in adolescents, since it represents an alert to adolescent’s health and well-being. Six electronic databases and gray literature were systematically searched from January 1980 to December 2018. A total of 11 articles met the inclusion criteria. Included studies assessed body weight dissatisfaction using different dimensions/components: satisfaction component of the attitudinal dimension was assessed in five studies, behavior component of the attitudinal dimension was assessed in two studies, perceptual dimension was assessed in two studies, and two studies were unclear about dimension. Behaviors: two assessed only unhealthy eating behaviors, six assessed lack of physical activity, and three assessed both behaviors. Only three studies found an association between body weight dissatisfaction with unhealthy eating behaviors, three with lack of physical activity, and one did not perform a statistical test for an association between body weight dissatisfaction with unhealthy eating behaviors and lack of physical activity. Few studies have reported an association between body weight dissatisfaction with one of these unhealthy behaviors. There was substantial heterogeneity related to unit of measures, both for body weight dissatisfaction and for behaviors studied.

Body Weight Dissatisfaction Is Associated with Cardiovascular Health-Risk Behaviors among Brazilian Adolescents: Findings from a National Survey

“…The theme of body weight dissatisfaction and its relation with unhealthy behaviors is still under development, since the most of the studies have been focusing on eating or mental disorders [37]. However, consistent with the little existing research, the present study demonstrated that body weight dissatisfaction was associated with a range of adolescent health-risk behaviors increasing cardiovascular risk over the life course.…”

“…In general, just having BWD, no matter the form, was associated with health-risk behaviors. However, due to scarce studies which assessed these two forms separately [37], this interpretation requires more future studies.…”

“…In female adolescents, the two forms of BWD were associated with skipping breakfast. Given the absence of researches about this association, the interpretation is questionable [14,36,37]. However, the authors are of the view that female adolescents seem to be engaging in this unhealthy eating habit in order to lose weight or to gain weight.…”

Assessment of Actual Weight, Perceived Weight and Desired Weight of Romanian School Children-Opinions and Practices of Children and Their Parents

“…For example in his study, Fredrikson et al outlined that females are influenced by a thin ideal body and differences between an idealized thin body and their actual BMI provoke dissatisfaction and a desire to lose weight [ 14 ]. A systematic review conducted by Duarte and her colleagues concluded that body weight dissatisfaction is frequently reported in adolescent population, regardless of the accuracy of their weight [ 54 ].…”

“…In fact, Maoyong Fan in his study showed that, despite the fact that correct self-perception of being overweight was strongly associated with weight-loss intentions, children failed to engage in healthy diet habits and moderate or vigorous exercises [ 56 ]. In addition, Duarte’s review showed a relationship between unhealthy eating behaviors (low fruits and vegetables intake, consumption of soft drinks, and low breakfast consumption) and lack of physical activity with body image dissatisfaction [ 54 ].…”