Exploring The Relationship Between Body Mass Index (BMI), Body Weight Perception, And Weight Change Behaviour Among University Students in Urban Gujarat, India: A Cross-Sectional Study

Rajanikant Solanki; Hasmukh Shah; Tejas Prajapati

doi:10.55489/njcm.140620232894

Authors

Rajanikant Solanki Pramukhswami Medical College, Bhaikaka University, Karamsad, Anand, India https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0728-4344
Hasmukh Shah Pramukhswami Medical College, Bhaikaka University, Karamsad, Anand, India https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4307-3552
Tejas Prajapati Sal Institute of Medical Sciences, Ahmedabad, India https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1754-8801

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55489/njcm.140620232894

Keywords:

Weight perceptions, Weight change behaviour, University students, Body image

Abstract

Background: In the context of the rising trend of overweight and obesity, young people are more concerned about their weight. This study investigates the association between measured Body Mass Index (BMI), self-perception of body weight and weight change behavior among university students.

Methods: This cross-sectional study assessed a sample of 415 university students aged 18-23 years residing in urban areas of Anand. Measures included weight, height, BMI, body weight perception and weight change behavior. The data were analyzed through descriptive statistics, the student’s t-test and Chi-square test.

Results: About 36.1% of the participants misclassified their weight category. More women than men felt overweight in relation to their actual body shape. Among normal-weight or underweight BMI participants, 44.4% of females and 31.8% of males were inappropriately trying to lose weight.

Conclusions: The study showed a higher prevalence of weight perception and inappropriate weight change behaviour. It also observed that the correct perception of body weight influences the willingness to lose or gain weight. It is important to consider these issues while designing a public health campaign targeting obesity and healthy lifestyles.

References

International Institute for Population Sciences - IIPS/India, Macro International. India National Family Health Survey (NFHS-3)-Gujarat 2005-06 [Internet]. Gujarat, Mumbai, India: IIPS and Macro International; 2007. Available from: http://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FRIND3/FRIND3.pdf

International Institue for Population Sciences - IIPS/India, ICF. India national family health survey NFHS-5 -Gujarat 2019-21 [In-ternet]. Gujarat, Mumbai, India: IIPS and ICF; 2022. Available from: https://www.dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR374/FR374.pdf

Anand T, Grover S, Tanwar S, Kumar R, Meena G, Ingle G. Accuracy of body weight perceptions among students in a medical school in Central Delhi, India. Educ Health. 2015;28(1):96. Doi: https://doi.org/10.4103/1357-6283.161948 PMid:26261124

Diengdoh I, Ali A. Body image and its association with depression, anxiety, and self-esteem among college going students: A study from Northeast India. Indian J Community Med. 2022;47(2):218. Doi: https://doi.org/10.4103/ijcm.ijcm_881_21 PMid:36034238 PMCid:PMC9400361

Grogan S. Promoting Positive Body Image in Males and Females: Contemporary Issues and Future Directions. Sex Roles. 2010;63(9-10):757-65. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-010-9894-z

Swami V, Frederick DA, Aavik T, Alcalay L, Allik J, Anderson D, et al. The Attractive Female Body Weight and Female Body Dissatis-faction in 26 Countries Across 10 World Regions: Results of the International Body Project I. Pers Soc Psychol Bull. 2010;36(3):309-25. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167209359702 PMid:20179313

Shroff H, Thompson JK. Body image and eating disturbance in India: Media and interpersonal influences. Int J Eat Disord. 2004 Mar;35(2):198-203. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.10229 PMid:14994357

Grogan S. Body Image and Health: Contemporary Perspectives. J Health Psychol. 2006;11(4):523-30. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105306065013 PMid:16769732

Lwanga SK, Lemeshow S. Sample size determination in health studies: a practical manual. Geneva: World Health Organization; 1991. 80 p.

Vijayalakshmi P, Thimmaiah R, Gandhi S, BadaMath S. Eating Attitudes, Weight Control Behaviors, Body Image Satisfaction and De-pression Level Among Indian Medical and Nursing Undergraduate Students. Community Ment Health J. 2018;54(8):1266-73. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-018-0333-x PMid:30159637

Narasimmal S, Karunakaran I, Shanmugam S, Subashini K, Nalinakumari SD. Body mass index status and accuracy of individual weight status perception among college going students in South India. Int J Community Med Public Health. 2016;1559-63. Doi: https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20161628

World Health Organization. WHO STEPS Surveillance Manual. World Health Organization; 2020.

Xu B yi, Zhang Y hui, Ma W jun, Xu Y jun, Song X ling, Nie S ping, et al. [Prevalence regarding weight misperception and related influ-encing factors among residents in Guangdong province]. Zhonghua Liu Xing Bing Xue Za Zhi. 2011;32(10):964-8.

Saleem MD, Ahmed G, Mulla J, Haider SS, Abbas M. Weight misperception amongst youth of a developing country: Pakistan -a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health. 2013;13(1):707. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-13-707 PMid:23915180 PMCid:PMC3734050

Mintem GC, Gigante DP, Horta BL. Change in body weight and body image in young adults: a longitudinal study. BMC Public Health. 2015;15(1):222. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-1579-7 PMid:25879685 PMCid:PMC4355136

Andrade FCD, Raffaelli M, Teran-Garcia M, Jerman JA, Garcia CA. Weight status misperception among Mexican young adults. Body Image. 2012;9(1):184-8. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2011.10.006 PMid:22104126

Wardle J, Haase AM, Steptoe A. Body image and weight control in young adults: international comparisons in university students from 22 countries. Int J Obes. 2006;30(4):644-51. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803050 PMid:16151414

Cafri G, Yamamiya Y, Brannick M, Thompson JK. The influence of sociocultural factors on body image: A meta-analysis. Clinical Psy-chology: Science and Practice. 2005;12(4):421-33. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/clipsy.bpi053

Ganesan S, Ravishankar S, Ramalingam S. Are body image issues affecting our adolescents? A cross-sectional study among college going adolescent girls. Indian J Community Med. 2018;43(5):42. Doi: https://doi.org/10.4103/ijcm.IJCM_62_18 PMid:30686874 PMCid:PMC6324036

Park B, Cho HN, Choi E, Seo DH, Kim NS, Park E, et al. Weight control behaviors according to body weight status and accuracy of weight perceptions among Korean women: a nationwide population-based survey. Sci Rep. 2019 ;9(1):9127. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-45596-z PMid:31235742 PMCid:PMC6591250

Quick V, Nansel TR, Liu D, Lipsky LM, Due P, Iannotti RJ. Body size perception and weight control in youth: 9-year international trends from 24 countries. Int J Obes. 2014;38(7):988-94. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2014.62 PMid:24722544 PMCid:PMC4090285

Christakis NA, Fowler JH. The Spread of Obesity in a Large Social Network over 32 Years. N Engl J Med. 2007;357(4):370-9. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMsa066082 PMid:17652652

Bordeleau M, Gilbert JA, Alméras N, Monthuy-Blanc J, Gagnon J, Mathieu MÈ, et al. Body image and health-related behaviors among fitspirit participants. BMC Public Health. 2022 ;22(1):1764. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14131-7 PMid:36115946 PMCid:PMC9482173

Jayawardena R, Byrne NM, Soares MJ, Katulanda P, Hills AP. Body weight perception and weight loss practices among Sri Lankan adults. Obesity Research & Clinical Practice. 2014 ;8(2):e192-200. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orcp.2013.05.003 PMid:24743016

Heise L, Greene ME, Opper N, Stavropoulou M, Harper C, Nascimento M, et al. Gender inequality and restrictive gender norms: fram-ing the challenges to health. Lancet. 2019 ;393(10189):2440-54. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(19)30652-X PMid:31155275

Singh S, Gadiraju P. Prevalence and correlates of body dissatisfaction and disordered eating patterns in Indian youth: The role of media. Indian J Psychiatry. 2020;62(5):509. Doi: https://doi.org/10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_737_19 PMid:33678831 PMCid:PMC7909050

Soohinda G, Sampath H, Mishra D, Dutta S. Body image dissatisfaction in young Indian Men: Prevalence, psychosocial correlates, and the impact of sociocultural pressure. Indian J Soc Psychiatry. 2020;36(2):130. Doi: https://doi.org/10.4103/ijsp.ijsp_28_19

Agrawal P, Gupta K, Mishra V, Agrawal S. A study on body-weight perception, future intention and weight-management behaviour among normal-weight, overweight and obese women in India. Public Health Nutr. 2014 ;17(4):884-95. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980013000918 PMid:23561825 PMCid:PMC5562269

Lynch E, Liu K, Wei GS, Spring B, Kiefe C, Greenland P. The Relation Between Body Size Perception and Change in Body Mass Index Over 13 Years: The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study. American Journal of Epidemiology. 2009 ;169(7):857-66. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwn412 PMid:19221119 PMCid:PMC2727220

Alwan H, Viswanathan B, Paccaud F, Bovet P. Is Accurate Perception of Body Image Associated with Appropriate Weight-Control Behavior among Adolescents of the Seychelles. Journal of Obesity. 2011;2011:1-8. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1155/2011/817242 PMid:21603277 PMCid:PMC3092647

Patte KA, Laxer RE, Qian W, Leatherdale ST. An analysis of weight perception and physical activity and dietary behaviours among youth in the COMPASS study. SSM - Population Health. 2016 ;2:841-9. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmph.2016.10.016 PMid:29349193 PMCid:PMC5757788

Tiggemann M. Sociocultural Perspectives on Body Image. In: Encyclopedia of Body Image and Human Appearance [Internet]. Else-vier; 2012 [cited 2023 Jan 14]. p. 758-65. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-384925-0.00120-6