Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Issues
    • Current Issue
    • All Issues
    • Accepted Articles
    • Online First
    • Supplement
    • CME
  • About
  • For Authors
    • Instructions for Authors
    • Submission Fee
    • Submit Manuscript
  • Podcasts

Perceptions of body image among Malaysian male and female adolescents

< Back to Listing

Share this Article

Singapore Med J 2009; 50(3): 303-311
Perceptions of body image among Malaysian male and female adolescents

  • Abstract
  • PDF

Khor GL, Zalilah MS, Phan YY, Ang M, Maznah B, Norimah AK
Correspondence: Prof Khor Geok Lin, khorgl@medic.upm.edu.my

ABSTRACT
Introduction
Body image concerns are common among adolescents as they undergo rapid physical growth and body shape changes. Having a distorted body image is a risk factor for the development of disordered eating behaviours and eating disorders. This study was undertaken to investigate body image concerns among Malaysian male and female adolescents aged 11–15 years.
Methods A total of 2,050 adolescents (1,043 males and 1,007 females) with a mean age of 13.1 +/- 0.8 years from secondary schools in Kedah and Pulau Pinang were included in the study. Questionnaires were used to collect socioeconomic data and body image indicators.
Results The majority (87 percent) of the adolescents were concerned with their body shape. While the majority of underweight, normal weight and overweight male and female subjects perceived their body weight status correctly according to their body mass index (BMI), a noteworthy proportion in each category misjudged their body weight. About 35.4 percent of the males and 20.5 percent of the females in the underweight category perceived themselves as having a normal weight, while 29.4 percent and 26.7 percent of the overweight males and females respectively also perceived that they had a normal weight. A higher proportion of the females (20 percent) than males (9 percent) with a normal BMI perceived themselves as fat. Most of the male (78–83 percent) and female subjects (69–74 percent) in all the BMI categories desired to be taller than their current height. An appreciable proportion of both the males (41.9 percent) and females (38.2 percent) preferred to remain thin, or even to be thinner (23.7 percent of males and 5.9 percent of females). Females had a significantly higher mean body dissatisfaction score than males, indicating their preference for a slimmer body shape. More males (49.1 percent) preferred a larger body size while more females (58.3 percent) idealised a smaller body size. Compared to normal weight and underweight subjects, overweight males and females expressed lower confidence and acceptance levels, as well as expressed greater preoccupation with and anxiety over their body weight and shape.
Conclusion As having a distorted body image may lead to negative effects such as unhealthy eating habits and disordered eating behaviours, it is recommended that appropriate educational efforts on body image be incorporated into school health activities for adolescents.

Keywords: adolescents, body image, eating habits, school health
Singapore Med J 2009; 50(3): 303-311

http://smj.org.sg/sites/default/files/5003/5003a11.pdf
×
POPULAR THIS MONTH
Cervical cancer screening and vaccination: understanding the latest guidelines
A decade of influence in the Singapore youth mental health landscape: the Community Health Assessment Team (CHAT)
Comment on: Doctors and social media: knowledge gaps and unsafe practices
Singapore Advanced Cardiac Life Support Guidelines 2021

Around the Site

Home

About SMJ

For Reviewers

Sign Up for Alerts

Issues

Current Issue

All Issues

Online First

Supplement

CME

For Authors

Instructions for Authors

Submit Manuscript


Follow us on:
        

More Links

Contact Us

Copyright

Advertise

SMJ Forms

Privacy Policy

SMA Home

Copyright 2021. Singapore Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.