Body image and healthy lifestyle behaviors of university students
Abstract
Background: Body image, one’s perception of personal physical appearance, can be positive or negative, leading to body satisfaction or body dissatisfaction. Body satisfaction and dissatisfaction affect individuals of all ages and have the potential to impact lifestyle choices.
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between body image and healthy lifestyle behaviors.
Participants: Undergraduate students at a state university in the southeastern United States.
Methods: An email was sent, providing a link to an online survey that included: demographic, body image, and screen time questions; the Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity tool; and the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II.
Results: 1,056 usable surveys were returned. The participants were primarily Caucasian females (75%) who were college juniors or seniors (65.5%). The majority (71%) indicated they were satisfied with their body, although many (60.3%) wanted to alter it. Most (65.1%) had a normal BMI. Only 23.3% meet physical activity guidelines. Healthy lifestyle behaviors were engaged in “sometimes” and “often, but not routinely.” Body image was correlated with healthy lifestyle behaviors.
Conclusions: Programs and resources focusing on promotion of positive body image, appropriate physical activity, and healthy eating behaviors should be the norm on college campuses.
About this article
References
K. Presnell, S.K. Bearman, E. Stice, Risk factors for body dissatisfaction in adolescent boys and girls: a prospective study, International Journal of Eating Disorders 36 (2004) 389-401. Available online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/eat.20045
S.J. Paxton, M.E. Eisenberg, D. Neumark-Sztainer, Prospective predictors of body dissatisfaction in adolescent girls and boys: a five-year longitudinal study, Developmental Psychology 42 (2006) 888-899. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0012-1649.42.5.888.
P. van den Berg, S.J. Paxton, H. Keery, M. Wall, J. Guo, D. Neumark-Sztainer, Body dissatisfaction and body comparison with media images in males and females, Body Image 4 (2007) 257-268. Available online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2007.04.003.
R.H. Salk, R. Engeln-Maddox, "If you're fat then I'm humongous": frequency, content, and impact of fat talk among college women. Psychology of Women Quarterly 35 (2011) 18-25. Available online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0361684310384107.
D. Neumark-Sztainer, M. Story, P.J. Hannan, C.L. Perry, L.M. Irving, Weight-related concerns and behaviors among overweight and nonoverweight adolescents: implications for preventing weight-related disorders. Archives of Pediatric Adolescent Medicine 156 (2002) 171-178. Available online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archpedi.156.2.171.
View more references (41)
E. Lynch, K. Liu, B. Spring, A. Hankinson, G.S. Wei, P. Greenland, Association of ethnicity and socioeconomic status with judgments of body size: the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study, American Journal of Epidemiology 165 (2007) 1055-1062. Available online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwk114.
E. Park, Overestimation and underestimation: adolescents' weight perception in comparison to BMI-based weight status and how it varies across socio-demographic factors, Journal of School Health 81 (2011) 57-64. Available online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1746-1561.2010.00561.
D.K. Eaton, L. Kann, S. Kinchen, et al., Youth risk behavior surveillance - United States, 2011, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report Surveillance Summary 61 (2012) 1-162. Available online: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss6104a1.htm.
L.R. Jones, E. Fries, S.J. Danish, Gender and ethnic differences in body image and opposite sex figure preferences of rural adolescents, Body Image 4 (2007) 103-108. doi: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2006.11.005.
D. Neumark-Sztainer, J. Croll, M. Story, P.J. Hannan, S.A. French, C. Perry, Ethnic/racial differences in weight-related concerns and behaviors among adolescent girls and boys: findings from Project EAT, Journal of Psychosomatic Research 53 (2002) 963-874. Available online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3999(02)00486-5
A. Yates, J. Edman, M. Aruguete, Ethnic differences in BMI and body/self-dissatisfaction among Whites, Asian subgroups, Pacific Islanders, and African-Americans, Journal of Adolescent Health 34 (2004), 300-307. Available online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2003.07.014.
K. Maximova, J.J. McGrath, T. Barnett, J. O'Loughlin, G. Paradis, M. Lambert, Do you see what I see? Weight status misperception and exposure to obesity among children and adolescents, International Journal of Obesity (London) 32 (2008) 1008-1015. Available online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2008.15.
K.J. Williams, C.A. Taylor, K.N. Wolf, R.F. Lawson, R. Crespo, Cultural perceptions of healthy weight in rural Appalachian youth, Rural Remote Health 8 (2008):932. Available online: http://www.rrh.org.au/articles/subviewnew.asp?ArticleID=932.
J. Daniels, Weight and weight concerns: are they associated with reported depressive symptoms in adolescents? Journal of Pediatric Health Care 19 (2005) 33-41. Available online: http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1016/j.pedhc.2004.07.007.
P. Martyn-Nemeth, S. Penckofer, M. Gulanick, B. Velsor-Friedrich, F.B. Bryant, The relationships among self-esteem, stress, coping, eating behavior, and depressive mood in adolescents, Research in Nursing and Health 32 (2009) 96-109. DOI: 10.1002/nur.20304.
E. Stice, H.E. Shaw, Role of body dissatisfaction in the onset and maintenance of eating pathology: a synthesis of research findings, Journal of Psychosomatic Research 53 (2002) 985-993. Available online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3999 (02)00488-9.
R.H. Striegel-Moore, C.M. Bulik, Risk factors for eating disorders, The American Psychologist 62 (2007) 181-198. Available online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.62.3.181.
E. Cooley, T. Toray, Body image and personality predictors of eating disorder symptoms during the college years, International Journal of Eating Disorders 30 (2001) 28-36. Available online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/eat.1051.
R. Hacıhasanoğlu, A. Yıldırım, P. Karakurt, R. Sağlam, Healthy lifestyle behaviour in university students and influential factors in eastern Turkey, International Journal of Nursing Practice 17 (2011) 43-51. Available online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-172X.2010.01905.x.
P. Deshmukh-Taskar, T.A. Nicklas, M. Morales, S.J. Yang, I. Zakeri, G.S. Berenson, Tracking of overweight status from childhood to young adulthood: The Bogalusa Heart Study, European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 60 (2006) 48-57. Available online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602266.
K.F. Ferraro, R.J. Thorpe Jr., and J.A. Wilkinson, The life course of severe obesity: does childhood overweight matter? The Journals of Gerontolology. Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences 58 (2003) S110-S119. Avaialble online: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3358723/.
A.T. Kozak, M.L. Daviglus, C. Chan, C.I. Kiefe, D.R. Jacobs, K. Liu, Relationship of body mass index in young adulthood and health-related quality of life two decades later: the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study, International Journal of Obesity 35 (2011) 134-141. Available online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2010.120.
R.L. Lee, A.J. Loke, Health-promoting behaviors and psychosocial well-being of university students in Hong Kong, Public Health Nursing 22 (2005) 209-220. Available online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.0737-1209.2005.220304.x.
I. Tirodimos, I. Georgouvia, T.N. Savvala, E. Karanika, D. Noukari, Healthy lifestyle habits among Greek university students: differences by sex and faculty of study, Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal 15 (2009) 722-728. Available online: http://www.emro.who.int/emhj-list/emhj-volume-15-2009/vol15-issue3.html.
M.I. von Bothmer, B. Fridlund, Gender differences in health habits and in motivation for a healthy lifestyle among Swedish university students, Nursing & Health Sciences 7 (2005) 107-118. Available online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-2018.2005.00227.x.
M. Small, L. Bailey-Davis, N. Morgan, J. Maggs, and Changes in eating and physical activity behaviors across seven semesters of college: living on or off campus matters, Health Education & Behavior 40 (2013) 435-441. Available online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1090198112467801.
S.R. Bray, H.A. Born, Transition to university and vigorous physical activity: implications for health and psychological well-being, Journal of American College Health 52 (2004) 181-188. Available online: http://dx.doi.org/10.3200/JACH.52.4.181-188.
X.D. Keating, J. Guan, J.C. Piñero, D.M. Bridges, A meta-analysis of college students' physical activity behaviors, Journal of American College Health 54 (2005) 116-125. Available online: http://dx.doi.org/10.3200/JACH.54.2.116-126.
American College Health Association, National College Health Assessment II: Reference Group Executive Summary Fall 2010. American College Health Association, Linthicum, MD, 2011. Available online: http://www.acha-ncha.org/reports_acha-nchaii.html.
R. Vella-Zarb, F. Elgar, The ‘Freshman 5’: a meta-analysis of weight gain in the freshman year of college. Journal of American College Health 58 (2009) 161-166. Available online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07448480903221392.
S. Racette, S. Deusinger, M. Strube, G. Highstein, R. Deusinger, Changes in weight and health behaviors from freshman through senior year of college, Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior 40 (2008) 39-42. Available online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2007.01.001
M. Nelson, R. Kocos, L. Lytle, C. Perry, Understanding the perceived determinants of weight-related behaviors in late adolescence: a qualitative analysis among college youth, Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior 41 (2009) 287-292. Available online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2008.05.005
M. Greaney, F. Less, A. White, et al., College students’ barriers and enablers for healthful weight management: a qualitative study, Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior 41 (2009) 281-286. Available online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2008.04.354.
I. Holsen, D. Carlson Jones, M. Skogbrott Birkeland, Body image satisfaction among Norwegian adolescents and young adults: a longitudinal study of the influence of interpersonal relationships and BMI, Body Image 9 (2012) 201-208. Available online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2012.01.006. Epub 2012 Mar 4.
F. Al-Kandari, V.L. Vidal, D. Thomas, Health-promoting lifestyle and body mass index among College of Nursing students in Kuwait: a correlational study, Nursing & Health Sciences 10 (2008) 43-50. Available online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-2018.2007.00370.x.
S.L. Huang, R.H. Li, F.C. Tang, Comparing disparities in the health-promoting lifestyles of Taiwanese workers in various occupations. Industrial Health 48 (2010) 256-64. Available online: http://dx.doi.org/10.2486/indhealth.48.256.
M.E. Wilkosz, J.L. Chen, C. Kenndey, S. Rankin, Body dissatisfaction in California adolescents, Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners 23 (2011) 101-109. Available online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-7599.2010.00586.x.
Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee, 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans., U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Washington DC, 2008. Available online: www.health.gov/paguidelines/.
J.J. Prochaska, J.F. Sallis, B. Long, A physical activity screening measure for use with adolescents in primary care. Archives of Pediatric Adolescent Medicine 155 (2001) 554-549. Available online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archpedi.155.5.554.
S.N. Walker, D.M. Hill-Polerecky, Psychometric evaluation of the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (unpublished manuscript), University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha NE, 1996. Available online: http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/85349/HPLP_II-Dimensions.pdf?sequence=2.
S.N. Walker, K.R. Sechrist, N.J. Pender, The Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile: development and psychometric characteristics. Nursing Research 36 (1987) 76-81. Available online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00006199-198703000-00002.
G. Can, K. Ozdilli, O. Erol, et al., Comparison of the health-promoting lifestyles of nursing and non-nursing students in Istanbul, Turkey, Nursing & Health Sciences 10 (2008) 273-280. Available online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-2018.2008.00405.x.
S.M. Ulla Díez, A. Pérez-Fortis, Socio-demographic predictors of health behaviors in Mexican college students. Health Promotion International 25 (2010) 85-93. Available online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/heapro/dap047.
M.A. Stark, J. Manning-Walsh, S. Vliem, Caring for self while learning to care for others: a challenge for nursing students, Journal of Nursing Education 44 (2005) 266-270.
S. Keller, J.E. Maddock, W. Hannöver, J.R. Thyrian, H.D. Basler, Multiple health risk behaviors in German first year university students., Preventive Medicine 46 (2008) 189-195. Available online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2007.09.008.
D. Neumark-Sztainer, S.J. Paxton, P.J. Hannan, J. Haines, M. Story, Does body satisfaction matter? Five-year longitudinal associations between body satisfaction and health behaviors in adolescent females and males, Journal of Adolescent Health 39 (2006) 244-2 51. Available online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2005.12.001.