The importance of body satisfaction to physical self‐concept and body mass index in Spanish adolescents

Abstract

This research examines the association between measured body mass index (BMI) and the perception of BMI by young students. Moreover, this research tests the importance of BMI and self-concept, in order to predict body dissatisfaction in high school students. The sample consisted of 2087 individuals from different high schools in Extremadura, Spain, both males (n = 1046) and females (n = 1041), ranging in age from 15 to 17 years old (M = 15.42; SD = 0.86). Initially, participants' BMIs were assessed through anthropometry. Later, all individuals were asked about their weight and height, and their self-reported BMI was calculated. Participants also answered a questionnaire about their perception of self-concept, as well as completed a test about body image perception using Stunkard images. Outcomes revealed that factors concerning self-concept and perceived BMI explained body dissatisfaction. Finally, results are discussed with the aim of improving knowledge in body dissatisfaction context.

Children’s Physical Self-Concept and Body Image According to Weight Status and Physical Fitness

“…Moreover, an important issue to highlight is the importance of BMI and perception of appearance in boys but not in girls. This result is consistent with previous outcomes [2][3][4]25] which found lower scores in appearance in boys compared to girls, as well as a strong relationship between BMI and appearance. This might be explained through the greater participation in physical activities and sports among male sex, which exclude and/o identify those boys who do not engage in, affecting their perception of appearance [5].…”

“…Taking into account previous research and according to the relationship between body satisfaction and physical activity, the authors have found negative associations between body satisfaction and physical activity in both sex, emphasizing that low body satisfaction may be a barrier to engaging in physical activity [4,12,26,31]. Thus, the aims of the study were to know the differences between anthropometric variables and fitness in function of the perceived self-concept levels, as well as test the differences between anthropometric variables and fitness regarding body dissatisfaction level in boys and girls.…”

“…Childhood obesity has emerged as an important public health issue worldwide, which has generated consequences of physical health problems [1]. There is clear evidence that overweightness and obesity are associated with poor body satisfaction [2][3][4][5][6], which promote lower self-concept [4]. Body satisfaction it is defined as a complex and multidimensional construct of individual's about feelings about weight and shape his body, producing a positive affect about his body image [2].…”

“…The study conducted by Añez et al [26] within a large sample of Spanish adolescents showed that poor body satisfaction can appear as a barrier and not a motivator to physical activity adherence in youth. Furthermore, body satisfaction can promote the progressive appearance of behaviors aimed at improving an individual's assessment of their own physical appearance [5] and creasing the physical activity level [4,12].…”

“…Previously, Ozmen et al [8] conducted a cross-sectional survey on 2101 Turkish adolescents and found that body dissatisfaction was related to low self-esteem, and perceived overweightness was also associated with low self-esteem [29]. Furthermore, there are studies that have demonstrated the negative relationship between overweightness and obesity and psychological consequences such as self-concept [4]. Levels of self-concept represent protective factors against the development of maladaptive behaviors in scholars [30].…”