Prevalence and predictors of body image discrepancy and dissatisfaction among Filipino young adults

Abstract

Body image dissatisfaction is related to adverse health outcomes, but few studies document its prevalence and correlates in males and in countries undergoing urbanization and rapid economic, social and cultural change. We use data from 21 year‐old male (n=985) and female (n=812) participants in the Cebu (Philippines) Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey. Body image dissatisfaction was defined as the difference between ideal and self‐rated body image assessed using 9 silhouettes tailored for an Asian population. Despite the low prevalence of overweight (19.7% of males, and 15.3% of females had a BMI≥23 kg/m2), dissatisfaction (difference ≠ 0) was reported by 61% of males and 63% of females. However, 32% of women and 9% of men wanted to be smaller; 31% of women and 52% of men wanted to be bigger. Multinomial logistic regression models showed that higher household assets related to desire to be smaller, and increased social engagement with peers related to desire to be bigger among males. Among females higher urbanicity and media exposure related to desire to be smaller across all categories of current weight status, while higher education related to desire to be smaller only among overweight females. The findings demonstrate the widespread prevalence of body image dissatisfaction, as well as the importance of changing social and economic influences in this population undergoing the nutrition transition.