Keywords
Body image
University students
Health-related fields
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Abstract
Objective: To evaluate body perception among university students in health-related fields.
Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional, and quantitative study involving 294 university students of both sexes, over 18 years old, enrolled in Nursing, Dentistry, Medicine, and Nutrition programs at two private universities in Barbacena, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Self-administered instruments were used: self-reported anthropometric measurements, the Stunkard Figure Rating Scale, and the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ). Results: The participants had a mean age of 23.7 years (± 6.35). The average body mass index (BMI) was approximately 23.8 kg/m², with 59.5% classified as having a normal weight. BSQ scores ranged from 34 to 204, with a mean of 83.8 points and a median of 76.5. Most participants (78.9%) did not present body dissatisfaction. Notably, women had significantly higher BSQ scores than men (p < 0.001). According to the Figure Stunkard Rating Scale, 68,8% of women and 46,8% of men expressed a desire to lose weight. Conversely, men showed higher body satisfaction (24,1% versus 14,9%) and reported a greater desire to gain muscle mass (29,1% versus 16,3%). Conclusion: Despite the low overall rates of body dissatisfaction in the sample, a higher prevalence of dissatisfaction and desire for body changes was observed among women.
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