The Importance of Gender in Body Mass Index, Age, and Body Self-Perception of University Students in Spain

Jorge Rojo-Ramos, Irene Polo-Campos (), Miguel Ángel García-Gordillo, Jose Carmelo Adsuar (), Carmen Galán-Arroyo and Santiago Gómez-Paniagua
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Jorge Rojo-Ramos: Physical Activity for Education, Performance and Health Research Group, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, 10003 Caceres, Spain
Irene Polo-Campos: BioẼrgon Research Group, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
Miguel Ángel García-Gordillo: Faculty of Administration and Business, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Talca 3467987, Chile
Jose Carmelo Adsuar: Promoting a Healthy Society Research Group (PHeSO), Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
Carmen Galán-Arroyo: Physical and Health Literacy and Health-Related Quality of Life (PHYQoL), Faculty of Sport Science, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
Santiago Gómez-Paniagua: BioẼrgon Research Group, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 6, 1-11

Abstract: Body image is a fundamental factor that influences a person’s self-image throughout life and at all stages of life. Self-perception of body image and body mass index may be related, as the way a person views him or herself can influence their eating behavior and level of physical activity, which in turn can affect their weight and BMI. The aim of this study is to find the association between body mass index, age, and body self-perception of university students, analyzing possible differences according to the gender of the students. In total, 312 students answered five sociodemographic questions in addition to the Multidimensional Body Self Relations Questionnaire, which consists of 45 questions grouped into four dimensions. Spearman’s Rho test was used to analyze the association between each of the Multidimensional Body Self Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ) factors and body mass index (BMI). Statistical differences were found in dimension 3 ( p < 0.01) of the MBSRQ questionnaire with respect to BMI in both sexes, and in dimension 1 ( p < 0.01), a significant difference was found in female students. With the male gender, significant differences were found between age and BMI (0.04). Consequently, the sex to which the student belongs conditions his or her BMI with the self-perceived body image, so lines of action should be developed to improve self-image.

Keywords: body image; body mass index; gender; university students; self-perceptions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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