Association between physical activity recommendations and body image dissatisfaction in university adults

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Objectives: The aim of this study was to verify the association between meeting the recommendation for moderate physical activity and body image dissatisfaction in university adults.

Methodology: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study involving 63 university adults aged between 18 and 40, of both sexes. Anthropometric measurements were taken and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Physical activity (PA) was monitored using accelerometers (ActiGraph, model GT3x), and the data was analyzed using the ActiLife program. For the analyses, moderate PA (MPA) was dichotomized into whether or not it met the recommendation of at least 150 to 300 minutes per week. The body image dissatisfaction (BDI) was assessed using the Kakeshita scale, considering the difference between the figures representing the current and desired body. Pearson's chi-square test was used to assess the associations between MPA, BDI and BMI, with significance set at 5%.

Results: Among women who met the recommendation for MPA, 87% wanted to reduce their body mass (?2=5.217; p=0.022), while for men there was no significant association (?2=1.027; p=0.311). Women had higher BDI than men (38.1% vs. 34.9%; ?2=4.125; p=0.042), with 43% of women and 32% of men dissatisfied and wanting to reduce their body mass. BMI was only associated with BDI in women, with 40% of overweight women showing greater dissatisfaction (?2=4.667; p=0.031).

Conclusion: It can be concluded that the association between meeting the MPA recommendation and BDI was only found in women and all those who were dissatisfied wanted to reduce their body mass. With regard to gender, there was a higher frequency of dissatisfied women than their male counterparts. In the case of the dissatisfied, both women and men indicated that they wanted to reduce their body mass