Boutahar K, Chetoui A, Kaoutar K, Najimi M, Chigr F
Laboratory of Biological Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Beni Mellal, Morocco.
Laboratory of Biological Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Beni Mellal, Morocco.
Rev Epidemiol Sante Publique. 2019 Sep;67(5):311-317. doi: 10.1016/j.respe.2019.04.057. Epub 2019 Jul 16.
University students aged between 18 and 25 undergo several physical changes as a result of transition from adolescence to adulthood. Students do not always accept those changes and sometimes develop dissatisfaction towards their figures. In such cases, it is still not clear how actual body weight status can be affected by socio-cultural factors such as body image perception. The objective of this study was to determine the link between anthropometric status and body image perception among university students.
Two hundred and forty six (246) university students from the Faculty of Sciences and Technologies within the Beni Mellal-Khenifra region in Morocco, aged 20-24 years were interviewed using face-to-face questionnaires. Anthropometric measurements and Body Mass Index were collected. Body image perception was assessed by Figure Rating Scale, and body size dissatisfaction was calculated as Feel minus Ideal Discrepancy (FID). Data were described using means and proportions. The Student t-test and the chi-square test have been used to assess the statistical significance of group differences.
Underweight students represented 16.7% of the investigated sample, while 11.4% suffered from overweight and obesity, higher in females students (14.4%) than in males (7.9%). Regarding body image perception, 43.9% of participants considered themselves underweight; whereas only 4.2% considered themselves overweight with no significant differences related to gender. Of note, the total prevalence of body image dissatisfaction was around 69.8%. Finally, among overweight/obese students, 88.9% of females and 71.4% of males expressed the wish to become thinner while 28.6% of the overweight/obese males wanted to get heavier.
The results of this study indicate a high rate of body image dissatisfaction and a tendency of participants to underestimate their body weight. This behavior may be a reflection of a real influence of social and psychological factors occurring during this critical period and may make university students vulnerable to many risk-taking behaviors. Thus, there is a need for suitable interventional programs and innovative strategies to ensure the understanding of the health consequences of overweight and obesity and to prevent associated comorbidities.
18至25岁的大学生在从青春期向成年期过渡的过程中会经历一些身体变化。学生们并不总是接受这些变化，有时会对自己的身材产生不满。在这种情况下，社会文化因素如身体形象认知如何影响实际体重状况仍不清楚。本研究的目的是确定大学生人体测量状况与身体形象认知之间的联系。
对摩洛哥贝尼梅勒-凯尼弗拉地区科技学院的246名年龄在20至24岁的大学生进行面对面问卷调查。收集人体测量数据和体重指数。通过体型评定量表评估身体形象认知，并将身体尺寸不满计算为感觉减去理想差异（FID）。数据用均值和比例进行描述。采用学生t检验和卡方检验评估组间差异的统计学意义。
体重过轻的学生占被调查样本的16.7%，而超重和肥胖的学生占11.4%，女生（14.4%）高于男生（7.9%）。关于身体形象认知，43.9%的参与者认为自己体重过轻；而只有4.2%的人认为自己超重，与性别无关，无显著差异。值得注意的是，身体形象不满的总患病率约为69.8%。最后，在超重/肥胖的学生中，88.9%的女生和71.4%的男生表示希望变瘦，而28.6%的超重/肥胖男生希望变胖。
本研究结果表明，身体形象不满率较高，参与者有低估自己体重的倾向。这种行为可能反映了这一关键时期社会和心理因素的实际影响，并可能使大学生容易出现许多冒险行为。因此，需要合适的干预项目和创新策略，以确保了解超重和肥胖对健康的影响，并预防相关的合并症。
