Body Image Discrepancy and Body Mass Index among Chinese University Students in Hong Kong

香港大學生身體質量指數與身體形象差異的概況

Abstract

LANGUAGE NOTE | Document text in English; abstract also in Chinese.

Introduction: The purposes of this study were to examine (a) the relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI) and the perception of body image, (b) the body satisfaction level (BSS), and (c) the most satisfied and dissatisfied body part. Methods: 588 university students (aged: 20.0±2.2 years; BMI: 20.3±2.8 kg/m2) from four universities in Hong Kong indicated their perceived ‘ideal’ and the ‘healthiest’ male and female figure from 9-figure rating scale. Body Image Discrepancy (BID) between their ‘current’ and ‘ideal’ figure was calculated. Results: Men reported significantly higher level of BSS than women. BMI correlated with BSS in women (r=.-263, p<.01) but not in men; BMI correlated with BID in women (r=.446, p<.001) and men (r=.587, p<.001). Most respondents indicated ‘no part’ as their most satisfied body part. Men and women stated their most dissatisfied body part was abdomen and thigh respectively. BSS was the highest in normal weight men and underweight women. Overweight respondents rated significantly larger figure as their ‘ideal’ size than their underweight and normal weight counterparts. Conclusions: An increase in BMI aggravates an increase in their desire to be thinner. It is necessary to help university students in Hong Kong to develop a healthy and realistic body image.

探討大學生(1)身體質量指數(BMI)與身體形象差異的關係; (2)身體滿意度; (3)最滿意和最不滿意自己身體部份。588位大學生從香港四所大學在9個由瘦至肥的男女剪影公仔中選擇(1)“理想”和“最健康”的男女體型; (2)代表自己“現在”和“理想”的體型來計算出身體形象差異。女性的身體滿意度比男性低並與BMI成反比。大多數指無最滿意的身體部份，男女分別最不滿意腹部和大腿。正常體重男士和過輕女士最滿意自己身體。總結，BMI與減磅意欲成正比。