BODY IMAGE PERCEPTION, BODY SHAPE CONCERN AND BODY SHAPE DISSATISFACTION AMONG UNDERGRADUATES STUDENTS

Abstract

There are significant surge on body image concern among young adults globally. The negative body image eventually leads to body shape dissatisfaction (BSD) and consequently would cause unfavorable outcomes such as anxiety, depression, low-self-esteem and poor quality of life. The self-reported body mass index (BMI), Self-rating Body Silhouette and Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ-16A) were used to identify relationship of body image perception, body shape concern with body shape dissatisfaction (BSD) among undergraduates’ students at Health Science Faculty UiTM, Malaysia.  Majority  of males and females  were in normal category  on body image perception with 64.7  % and 61 % respectively. About 79.4 % of male and 82.7 % female perceived their body weight as ideal body weight. On body shape concern, 67.6 % of male and 45.7 % of female were not concerned of their shape. Approximately 48.1 % of females were dissatisfied with their body shape and desire to become thinner contrary 44.1 % of male desire to become heavier. In addition increase in body shape concern lead decrease BSD. In view of their ignorance to achieve the desired body image and body shape concern may raise fear of unhealthy eating practices especially among female’s students. Thus, health awareness programs, health promotion, and health screening are to be necessitated among female university students to alleviate the potential risk of unhealthy eating behaviors.