Are Adolescent Body Image Concerns Associated with Health-Compromising Physical Activity Behaviours?

Rasa Jankauskiene,Migle Baceviciene,Dana Badau,Simona Pajaujiene

doi:10.3390/ijerph16071225

Rasa Jankauskiene, Migle Baceviciene + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16071225

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Abstract

The present study aimed to assess the-prevalence of health-compromising eating and physical activity behaviours, and to test their associations with physical activity, internalisation of sociocultural attitudes towards appearance, and body image in a sample of adolescents of both genders. A total sample of 736 adolescents (437 or 59.4% were girls) participated in the study. The participants ranged in age from 16 to 19 years (x = 17.2, SD = 0.6). The sample completed a questionnaire measuring body mass index, the risk of eating disorders, body image, internalisation of sociocultural ideals of appearance, health-compromising eating behaviours (HCEB), and health-compromising weight control related to physical activity behaviours (HCPAB). Logistic regressions were used to assess the associations between the study variables and predictors of HCEB and HCPAB. The results of the study showed a relatively high prevalence of HCEB with a significantly higher prevalence in girls and participants with a higher BMI. The study also demonstrated that the prevalence of adolescent HCPAB was higher than HCEB. The internalisation of sociocultural attitudes towards appearance and body image concerns were higher in the HCEB and HCPAB groups. Female gender (OR = 1.88; 95% PI = 1.10–3.18), HCPAB (OR = 1.19; 95% PI = 1.10–1.28), a preoccupation with being overweight (OR = 3.43; 95% PI = 2.52–4.66), and body weight evaluation as too high (OR = 2.40; 95% PI = 1.57–3.68) were significant predictors of HCEB. More frequent physical activity (OR = 3.02; 95% PI = 1.76–5.17), HCEB (OR = 1.22; 95% PI = 1.11–1.32), and perceived pressures to conform to popular beauty ideals (OR = 1.51; 95% PI = 1.12–2.03) predicted higher HCPAB. HCPAB is an important variable associated with adolescents’ body image, physical activity, and weight control. The results of the present study are important for health promotion and education programs addressing adolescents’ healthy lifestyle, weight control, and body image concerns.

Highlights

Physical activity (PA) plays an important role in the health of adolescents [1]
Controlling by gender and body mass index (BMI), we found that the variables of female gender, overweight preoccupation, and a tendency to evaluate own body weight as high or too high were the strongest predictors for health-compromising eating behaviours (HCEB)
Controlling by gender and BMI, we found that evaluating body weight as high, internalised pressures to lose body weight, and higher physical activity were the strongest predictors for HCPAB

Summary

Introduction

Physical activity (PA) plays an important role in the health of adolescents [1]. A significant proportion of adolescents do not meet the recommendations for PA. In Lithuania, only 23% of 15 year old boys and 12% of girls meet WHO physical activity recommendations [2] and there has been a decline in physical fitness in recent decades [3]. Res. Public Health 2019, 16, 1225; doi:10.3390/ijerph16071225 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph

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