Relationship between body image and percent body fat among male and female college students enrolled in an introductory 14-week weight-training course.

Students (39 men and 27 women) from a southern university, who were enrolled in a 14-wk. introductory weight-training course, were administered a 20-item body-image questionnaire and subsequently underwent skinfold measurements to assess percent body fat. Mean scores were correlated with percent body fat. For men, women, and both sexes combined correlations were significant and inverse (rs = -.68, -.41, -.66, respectively). Body image as measured was inversely related to percent body fat among these college students. Researchers should examine how dietary and exercise-induced changes in adiposity (pre-post design) influence scores on body image.