Body image perception and body image satisfaction among female medical students of Mysuru

Abstract

Background: Concerning one's appearance too much can result in sadness, anxiety disorders, disrupted eating habits, and nutritional deficiencies. In India, the idea of body image has received less attention, particularly among young females. The objective of the study is to assess the body image perception and satisfaction among female medical students of Private Medical College, Mysuru. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 210 female medical students of a Private Medical College in Mysuru using a self-administered questionnaire containing details of sociodemographic information and a validated visual analogue scale. Anthropometric measurements were taken using calibrated instruments. Data was analysed using SPSS version 26. The percentage was calculated for descriptive variables. The chi-square test was applied for analysing categorical variables. Results: The majority of the participants (37.1%) had a neutral perception regarding their body image followed by 33.8% are satisfied and 24.2% are unsatisfied regarding their body image. Body image perception showed that the majority (52.3%) of them had normal weight. Unhealthy weight-changing patterns like skipping meals (24%), and increasing the quantity and frequency of meals (17%) were reported among study participants. Conclusions: From the present study, it can be concluded that 37% had a neutral perception and 24% are unsatisfied with their body image. Psychological parameters like feeling anxious, lack of confidence, and attempts to change their body weight are associated with body image perception which may further result in affecting their mental health.