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Platta AM, Mikulec AT, Radzymińska M, Ruszkowska M, Suwała G, Zborowski M, Kowalczewski PŁ, Nowicki M. Body image and willingness to change it-A study of university students in Poland. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0293617. [PMID: 37910539 PMCID: PMC10619780 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0293617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The present study aimed to identify declared patterns of ideal appearance among students at selected higher education institutions in Poland. In the present study, we set out to identify the body image and the propensity to change it. In order to achieve the goal of the study, a nationwide survey was carried out using a voluntary diagnostic survey. A total of 810 respondents took part in the survey. The study was conducted using a custom-made self-designed survey questionnaire with an indirect interview technique via a web-based platform (CAWI). The study results indicate that women were far more eager to maintain an attractive appearance through dieting than men. Importantly, the respondents, both women and men, did not identify influencers as role models of attractive appearance. Results of the present survey reveal that attitudes towards one's physical appearance are diverse and influenced by the considered factors. The attributes that determined the perception of oneself as an attractive person included height, weight, and body build. Normal body weight is a key feature of an attractive appearance, according to the respondents; nevertheless, students show a higher tolerance for being overweight than for being underweight. Furthermore, preferences in this respect are largely conditioned by individual personal characteristics. According to young people, a person with an attractive appearance is one who eats and exercises regularly, and who does not fall into extremes in terms of their appearance. On the other hand, the fear of growing fat and losing one's attractive appearance was frequently indicated among the concerns over personal appearance. Only one in five respondents expressed complete satisfaction with how they looked, with men and those with a normal BMI significantly more likely to do so. Respondents expressed readiness to undertake a range of activities related to increased exercise regime, changes in their eating habits, or seeking assistance (e.g., of a personal trainer) to achieve the desired body shape. Our findings can be used as a basis for discussion and consideration in developing educational activities on nutrition, as well as on overweight- and obesity-related health issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna M. Platta
- Faculty of Management and Quality Science, Gdynia Maritime University, Gdynia, Poland
| | - Anna T. Mikulec
- Faculty of Engineering Sciences, University of Applied Science in Nowy Sącz, Nowy Sącz, Poland
| | - Monika Radzymińska
- Faculty of Economic Sciences, Institute of Management Science and Quality, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Millena Ruszkowska
- Faculty of Management and Quality Science, Gdynia Maritime University, Gdynia, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Suwała
- Department of Food Product Quality, Krakow University of Economics, Kraków, Poland
| | - Marek Zborowski
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Applied Science in Nowy Sącz, Nowy Sacz, Poland
| | | | - Marcin Nowicki
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville TN, United States of America
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Rinaldo N, Toselli S, Gualdi-Russo E, Khyatti M, Gihbid A, Zaccagni L. Anthropometric Assessment of General and Central Obesity in Urban Moroccan Women. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:6819. [PMID: 35682400 PMCID: PMC9180076 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19116819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
In the last few decades, North African countries have faced the nutrition transition, leading to an increase in obesity, exacerbated by an extremely low rate of physical activity (PA). Particular attention must be paid to abdominal obesity (one of the metabolic syndrome criteria), which has been linked to several health problems. The present study aims to investigate the prevalence of overweight/obesity, particularly abdominal obesity, in a sample of urban Moroccan women and to analyze the anthropometric indicators of metabolic syndrome risk among subsamples with different PA and socio-demographic characteristics. Urban Moroccan women living in Casablanca (n = 304; mean age 37.4 ± 15.6 years) were recruited for this cross-sectional study. Data concerning socio-demographic variables, PA behavior, and anthropometric measures (height, weight, waist, and hip circumferences) were directly collected. Body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, waist-to-height ratio, and relative fat mass were computed. Comparisons between women with different socio-demographic characteristics were performed through ANCOVA adjusted for age. The results reveal that 39.4% of the women did not practice any PA. The percentage of women above the cutoffs of risk for general and central obesity was more than half for all the indexes, except for waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and 19.6% were at a very high risk of health issues. Moreover, being female unmarried, childless, graduates, and students were found to be protective against obesity. In conclusion, Moroccan women have a high level of obesity, especially abdominal, and preventive interventions are needed to reduce the health impact of obesity in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natascia Rinaldo
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Prevention, University of Ferrara, Corso Ercole I d’Este 32, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (N.R.); (L.Z.)
- Center for Exercise Science and Sports, University of Ferrara, 44123 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Stefania Toselli
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Science, University of Bologna, Via Selmi 3, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Emanuela Gualdi-Russo
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Prevention, University of Ferrara, Corso Ercole I d’Este 32, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (N.R.); (L.Z.)
| | - Meriem Khyatti
- Institut Pasteur du Maroc, Casablanca 20250, Morocco; (M.K.); (A.G.)
| | - Amina Gihbid
- Institut Pasteur du Maroc, Casablanca 20250, Morocco; (M.K.); (A.G.)
| | - Luciana Zaccagni
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Prevention, University of Ferrara, Corso Ercole I d’Este 32, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (N.R.); (L.Z.)
- Center for Exercise Science and Sports, University of Ferrara, 44123 Ferrara, Italy
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Associations of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour Assessed by Accelerometer with Body Composition among Children and Adolescents: A Scoping Review. SUSTAINABILITY 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/su13010335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The possible adverse health effects of reduced physical activity (PA) on children and adolescents have been extensively documented as a result of the global obesity epidemic. However, the research has sometimes led to controversial results, due to the different methods used for the assessment of PA. The main aim of this review was to evaluate the association between PA and body composition parameters based on quantitative PA studies using the same equipment (Actigraph accelerometer) and cutoffs (Evenson’s). A literature review was undertaken using PUBMED and Scopus databases. Subjects aged 6–15 were considered separately by sex. Weighted multiple regression analyses were conducted. From the analysis of fourteen selected articles, it emerged that 35.7% did not evaluate the association of sedentary time (ST) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) with body composition, while the remaining 64.3% found a negative association of MVPA with BMI and fat mass with different trends according to sex. Furthermore, only 7.1% of these studies identified a positive association between ST and fat percentage. Based on the regression analyses conducted on the literature data, ST and MVPA were found to be significant predictors of body composition parameters, in addition to age and sex. Further studies using standardized methodologies to assess PA and body composition are needed. The inclusion of sex-disaggregated data may also be crucial to understand this phenomenon and to provide stronger evidence of the determinants of body composition in order to prevent the risk of obesity.
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Zaccagni L, Rinaldo N, Bramanti B, Mongillo J, Gualdi-Russo E. Body image perception and body composition: assessment of perception inconsistency by a new index. J Transl Med 2020; 18:20. [PMID: 31937320 PMCID: PMC6961355 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-019-02201-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A correct perception of the body image, as defined by comparison with actual anthropometric analyses, is crucial to ensure the best possible nutritional status of each individual. Bioimpedance analysis (BIA) represents a leading technique to assess body composition parameters and, in particular, the fat mass. This study examined the self-perception of body image at various levels of adiposity proposing a new index. Methods We investigated 487 young Italian adults (mean age of males: 21.9 ± 2.4 years; mean age of females: 21.0 ± 2.2 years). Each subject could choose, on the Contour Drawing Rating Scale, the silhouette that he/she considered most resembling his/her perceived body image as well as his/her ideal body image. On each subject, we performed anthropometric measurements and determined the values of Fat mass and %Fat with BIA. A new index, FAIFAT (Feel fat status minus Actual fat status Inconsistency), was developed to evaluate possible fat status perception inconsistencies by BIA. Results Based on ideal and feel body image comparison, women showed higher dissatisfaction than men and preferred slimmer silhouettes. FAIFAT values indicated that the fat status perception was correct in the majority of the examined individuals and only three subjects showed a serious misperception. Conclusions Our findings suggest that FAIFAT is an appropriate index for assessing the perceived fat status from the body image when compared with data obtained by BIA. In a population, the use of this index will allow the correct identification of groups at risk for eating disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciana Zaccagni
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Surgical Specialties, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Prevention, University of Ferrara, Corso Ercole I d'Este 32, 44121, Ferrara, Italy.,Biomedical Sport Studies Center, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Natascia Rinaldo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Surgical Specialties, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Prevention, University of Ferrara, Corso Ercole I d'Este 32, 44121, Ferrara, Italy.
| | - Barbara Bramanti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Surgical Specialties, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Prevention, University of Ferrara, Corso Ercole I d'Este 32, 44121, Ferrara, Italy. .,University Center for Studies on Gender Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
| | - Jessica Mongillo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Surgical Specialties, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Prevention, University of Ferrara, Corso Ercole I d'Este 32, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Emanuela Gualdi-Russo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Surgical Specialties, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Prevention, University of Ferrara, Corso Ercole I d'Este 32, 44121, Ferrara, Italy.,Biomedical Sport Studies Center, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
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Baveicy K, Mostafaei S, Darbandi M, Hamzeh B, Najafi F, Pasdar Y. Predicting Metabolic Syndrome by Visceral Adiposity Index, Body Roundness Index and a Body Shape Index in Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study from the Iranian RaNCD Cohort Data. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes 2020; 13:879-887. [PMID: 32273739 PMCID: PMC7102908 DOI: 10.2147/dmso.s238153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The use of anthropometric indices is one of the new and low-cost diagnostic methods of metabolic syndrome (MetS). The present study aimed to determine optimal cutoff points for the visceral adiposity index (VAI), body roundness index (BRI), and a body shape index (ABSI) in the prediction of MetS. METHODS This cross-sectional study was performed on 10,000 individuals aged from 35 to 65 years, recruited in Ravansar Non-Communicable Diseases (RaNCD) cohort study, in the west region of Iran, in 2019. MetS was defined according to International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to assess predictive anthropometric indices and determine optimal cutoff values. RESULTS The optimal cutoff points for VAI were 4.11 (AUC: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.81-0.84) in men and 4.28 (AUC: 0.86; 95% CI: 0.85-0.87) in women to prediction of MetS. The optimal cutoff points for BRI were 4.75 (AUC: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.74-0.77) in men and 6.17 (AUC: 0.62; 95% CI: 0.61-0.64) in women to prediction of MetS. The optimal cutoff points for ABSI were 0.12 (AUC: 0.49; 95% CI: 0.47-0.51) in men and 0.13 (AUC: 0.49; 95% CI: 0.47-0.51) in women to prediction of MetS. The risk of MetS in men and women with a VAI higher than the optimal cutoff point was, respectively, 9.82 and 11.44 times higher than that in those with a VAI lower than the cutoff point. CONCLUSION Although VAI might not be very cost-beneficial compared to IDF, our study showed VAI is a better predictor of MetS than BRI in adults. ABSI was not a suitable predictor for MetS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamran Baveicy
- Student Research Committee, School of Health, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Shayan Mostafaei
- Medical Biology Research Center, Health Technology Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit, Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mitra Darbandi
- Research Center for Environmental Determinants of Health (RCEDH), Health Institute, School of Health, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Behrooz Hamzeh
- Research Center for Environmental Determinants of Health (RCEDH), Health Institute, School of Health, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
- Social Development and Health Promotion Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Farid Najafi
- Research Center for Environmental Determinants of Health (RCEDH), Health Institute, School of Health, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Yahya Pasdar
- Research Center for Environmental Determinants of Health (RCEDH), Health Institute, School of Health, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
- Social Development and Health Promotion Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
- Correspondence: Yahya Pasdar Tel +98 83 38262005Fax +98 83 38263048 Email
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