Determinants of Higher Body Shape Concern Among Medical Students in Universiti Putra Malaysia

Abstract

Introduction: Body shape concern can lead to eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia. Our study aims to determine the determinant sociodemographic characteristics and mass media influences factors of body shape concern among medical undergraduate students of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). Methods: This was a cross-sectional study design done among the first year to final year of undergraduate medical UPM students in 2019. A questionnaire consisting of sociodemographic data, mass media influences and body shape concern was used. Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ), a validated questionnaire with good concurrent validity to other tools assessing body shape concerns, was used to assess body shape concern among the medical students in this study. Analysis was done using Chi-square, Fisher exact test and multivariate logistic regression. Results: A total of 316 respondents out of 502 (62.9%) participated in this study. 57.5% students showed varying degrees of concern about their body shape ranging from mild to marked concern. Greater odds of body shape concerns were noted with Malay ethnicity, preclinical years, hours using social media per day and number of Instagram® following. Conclusion: Significant determinant factors of higher body shape concerns among UPM undergraduate students were Malay ethnicity, preclinical year students, longer hours of using social media and having higher numbers of following on Instagram®. It is important to determine the non-modifiable and modifiable factors of higher body shape concerns to recognise high risk individuals of developing body shape concerns.