Body Perceptions and Weight Control Behaviors among Palestinian University Female Students: a Cross-Sectional Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zaher Nazzal ◽  
Watan Nazzal ◽  
Beesan Maraqa
Keyword(s):  
Body Image ◽  
Weight Control ◽  
Eating Behaviors ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Female Students ◽  
Great Level ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Weight Control Behaviors ◽  
Level Of Concern

Abstract Background: Eating behaviors and body image perceptions is an increasingly relevant and important topic in public health; due to its ultimate impact on health and human well-being in general. Objectives: This study aims to assess weight control behaviors and their relationship with body weight and image perceptions among university female students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among female students. The study included 420 female students aged 17-27 years using a convenient sample. Students were invited from all faculties. The data collection tools included a questionnaire, body image perceptions scale, and measurement scale for weight and height. Results: About 37% of female students had participated in risky eating behaviors, and reported a great level of concern about diet and weight (95% CI: 32% - 41%).In general, most of the study sample were dissatisfied with their bodies; in particular, 55.7% of participants were suffering from negative body image, while 24.5% showed a positive body image. The majority of participants who were engaging in risky eating behaviors were in a normal BMI category, and 15.5% were either overweight or obese and 9% underweight. The logistic regression analysis revealed that weight control behaviors were mainly associated withthe perception of body image. Discussion and Conclusion: The results showed a high level of concern about food and weight by the female students. Additionally, it showed that they are prone to risky eating behaviors. Therefore, interventions are needed to promote healthy eating behaviors and body image among university students.

scholarly journals Self-Perception and Self-Acceptance Are Related to Unhealthy Weight Control Behaviors in Catalan Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 4976
Author(s):  
Mercè Pollina-Pocallet ◽  
Eva Artigues-Barberà ◽  
Glòria Tort-Nasarre ◽  
Joaquim Sol ◽  
Laura Azlor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Image ◽  
Weight Control ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
The Body ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Weight Control Behaviors ◽  
Unhealthy Weight Control Behaviors ◽  
Unhealthy Weight Control ◽  
Unhealthy Weight

Adolescence is associated with a higher vulnerability that may result in a high dissatisfaction, the practice of unhealthy weight-control behaviors (UWCB) and, eventually, the onset of body image-related mental disorders. These factors are strongly associated with the social context, so it is important to characterize them in local or regional studies. To assess the relationship between body image and UWCB presence, a cross-sectional study was performed among 2496 schooled adolescents from Lleida (Spain) between 2017 and 2019. Their perceived and desired images were evaluated and compared with the real image in order to obtain the body distortion and the body dissatisfaction and relate them with UWCB. The studied individuals perceived themselves thinner than they actually were, with no differences between males and females. However, differences were found regarding body dissatisfaction, showing that females desired to be thinner, while males desired a more corpulent body image. Furthermore, one out of ten individuals reported UWCB, with higher prevalence among females. UWCB was associated with a desire to be thinner and with distorted body images. It is essential to work on self-perception and self-acceptance in early adolescence from an interdisciplinary perspective at educational, social and health levels to promote health in adolescence.

scholarly journals Knowledge, attitude and practices on cervical cancer screening among undergraduate female students in University of Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia: an institution based cross sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alem Getaneh ◽  
Birhanemeskel Tegene ◽  
Teshome Belachew
Keyword(s):  
Cervical Cancer ◽  
Cancer Screening ◽  
Cervical Cancer Screening ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Female Students ◽  
Favorable Attitude ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Undergraduate Female ◽  
The University

Abstract Background Cervical cancer is a major public health problem. In the world, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women and it is one of the leading causes of cancer mortality in females. It is the second most common women cancer in Ethiopia with almost 6300 new cases and 4884 deaths annually. Despite the high burden of new cases and deaths, there is a scarcity of data on knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) towards cervical cancer screening among female university students in Ethiopia particularly in the study area. Therefore, the present study was aimed to assess the KAP of undergraduate female students towards cervical cancer screening. Methods An institution based cross-sectional study was conducted in April 2018 at the University of Gondar, College of Medicine and Health Sciences undergraduate female students. Pretested, self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Four hundred and three female students were recruited by a simple random sampling method and the data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 20 statistical packages. Descriptive data analysis was used to report the results. Results More than half of the respondents (59.3.3%) had good knowledge, whereas nearly 67.7% of the respondents had favorable attitude towards cervical cancer. However, less than 1% of the respondents had been screened for cervical cancer. Conclusion Although undergraduate female students had apparently good knowledge and favorable attitude, their practices on cervical cancer screening were quite low. Therefore, the health sectors and the gender streaming office of the university mobilize students to strengthen the uptake the cervical cancer screening practice.

scholarly journals The Relationship between Restrained Eating, Body Image, and Dietary Intake among University Students in China: A Cross-Sectional Study

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 990
Author(s):  
Cuiting Yong ◽  
Hanmei Liu ◽  
Qiping Yang ◽  
Jing Luo ◽  
Yufeng Ouyang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Body Image ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Dietary Intake ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Restrained Eating ◽  
Hunan Province ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Chinese College Students

This study aims to explore the association between restrained eating, body image, and dietary intake among Chinese college students. This cross-sectional study included 1301 college students at two universities in Hunan Province. Electronic questionnaires were used to collect information including students’ demographic characteristics, restrained eating, perception of body weight, body satisfaction, and dietary intake. Anthropometric measurements were collected to calculate body mass index (BMI). The prevalence of high restrained eating was 52.8%. Students who were dissatisfied with their bodies or overestimated their body weight showed a higher tendency toward high restrained eating (p < 0.05). Students with high restrained eating tended to eat fruits and eggs more frequently, while the frequency of eating domestic animals and poultry, sugar-sweetened beverages, and fast food were the opposite. Moreover, high restrained eating was a risk factor for low dietary diversity (odds ratio (OR) = 1.384, 95% confidence interval: 1.002~1.912). The high incidence of restrained eating among Chinese college students and its energy-restricted diets that may lead to possible health implications require attention. Further studies are needed to investigate the characteristics of college students’ restrained eating to tailor appropriate interventions for forming positive body images and promoting healthy eating behaviors, thus, improving dietary quality.

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