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Body-image dissatisfaction and weight-control behaviour in Slovak adolescents
In this study by Bašková, Holubčíková & Baška (2017), the authors investigated the trends in body-image dissatisfaction in adolescents who report being on a diet, and the age and gender differences in weight-reducing behaviors. A sample of 2765 Slovak adolescents (13-15 years of age) was extrapolated from the Health Behavior in School Aged Children Study (2014). The participants reported on their body-image dissatisfaction and whether they engaged in weight-reducing behaviors. Data analysis revealed that 35% of girls and 20% of boys considered themselves as being too fat and that girls partook in weight-reducing behaviors more often than boys (28.8% vs. 14.9%). Amongst reported weight-reducing behaviors practiced by the participants, drinking more water was the most prevalent (67.7%), followed by consuming more fruits and vegetables (67.1%), fewer sweets (60.5%), and fewer soft drinks (51.7%). Age was not found to play a role in the observed behaviors, however, the participants reported on their belief that smoking helps reduce weight, where 8.9% of 15-year-olds smoked, 6% of 14-year-olds smoked, and 4.1% of 13-year-olds smoked. The authors conclude that girls are particularly vulnerable to being dissatisfied with their body image and to participating in weight-controlling behaviors, however, these vulnerabilities are not always linked to actual obesity. In addition, the majority of weight-reducing behaviors observed were major components of an overall healthy lifestyle, presenting potential avenues for enhancing weight control practices, especially in primary healthcare settings. [NPID: Adolescence, body image, diet, health, weight-control behavior]
Year: 2017
