Body Image and Body Composition among youth in UAE
Description
This study aims to explore the relationships of the body composition measures, specifically fat free mass index (FFM-I) with self-perceived body image and shape among a convenient sample of young adults in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This cross-sectional study was carried from March to April 2019, at the University of Sharjah (UOS), UAE, using a self-administered, structured questionnaire. The aim and objectives of the research study were explained to all the participants before providing the written informed consent. Fat free mass index (FFM-I) may be a promising tool for assessing risk of body image disorders. This cross-sectional study, explored the relationships between FFM-I and self-perceived body image and shape among youngsters in United Arab Emirates. It was conducted in 2019, at University of Sharjah (n= 199 M; 203 F). Assessment was done using questionnaire on demographics and lifestyle; Stunkard Figure Rating Scale; and Body Shape. Anthropometrics were measured using BMI, waist-to-height (WtHR) ratio and FFM-I. Majority (81%) of participants had adequate muscle mass (AMM). Nearly half of them (48.5%) were concerned about their body shape. Most of the participants (76.3%) were dissatisfied with their body image and 55.2% desired to be thinner. Males had significantly higher BMI, body fat and WtHR compared to females. Participants with low muscles mass (LMM), irrespective of gender, were underweight (49% F; 40.7% M), had a normal WtHR (98% F; 81.5% M) and desired to be heavier (44.9% F; 74.1% M). Generally, the participants showed fair agreement between perceived and actual BMI (k=0.4). Nevertheless, those with LMM had lower agreement in their perceived BMI versus actual BMI (k=0.024; poor) compared with those with AMM (k=0.408; fair); and in general males had better agreement between their perceived and actual BMI compared to females (0.432, moderate vs. 0.308, fair). In conclusion, LMM and female gender were associated with poorer body image perception and lower satisfaction. Our findings highlight the importance of increasing awareness about muscle mass among youngsters, to help them improve body image perception. Ethical approval of this study was obtained from the UOS Research Ethics Committee (Ref. REC-19-03-07-03-S).
Files
Steps to reproduce
Convenience sampling method was used, due to the lack of evidence on the outcome of interest (FFMI) in the target population. Interview session was 15 minutes. The questionnaire was administered in the English language. It included socio-demographic information (e.g. age and gender), weight-related behavior questions (e.g. diet and physical activity), the Stunkard Figure Rating Scale (FRS) adapted from Stunkard et al. (Stunkard, 1983), and the Body Shape Questionnaire adapted from Cooper et al. (Cooper et al., 1987) . Weight-related behavior questionnaire evaluated whether the participants followed a specific type of diet and the reasons for it, and if they regularly performed physical activity. Body Image Dissatisfaction: The Stunkard FRS consists of 9 silhouettes that range from very thin to very obese (labeled 1 to 9) (Stunkard, 1983). The BID variable is created by subtracting the participant’s current body image FRS score from the desired body image FRS score. A positive value indicates the “desire to be thinner”; a negative value reflects the “desire to be heavier” and a value of zero indicates “satisfaction with current body size”. Body Shape Questionnaire: The body shape questionnaire (BSQ) is an 8-item self-report questionnaire developed to investigate concerns about one’s appearance over the past 4weeks (Cooper et al., 1987). Questions are scored based on a 6-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (never) to 6 (always). The sum of all items generates a score, a higher BSQ score indicates increased concern about current body shape, as follows: <19 is interpreted as no concern with body shape; 19-25 mild concern with body shape; 26-33 moderate concern with body shape; >33 high concern with body shape. In the current study, scores reflecting mild and moderated concern with body shape were merged into 1 category. Anthropometric Measurements: body weight (kg) and height (cm) were measured. Neck (NC) and waist (WC) circumference (cm) were measured by measuring tape. Waist-to-height (WHtR) ratio was calculated by dividing the WC by the height . A cut-off of 0.5 was used to define abdominal obesity, whereby a WHtR<0.05 was considered as normal (Ashwell & Gibson, 2016). Body mass index (BMI) (kg/m2) was calculated by dividing weight (kg) by height squared (m2). Classification of the BMI was based on the World Health Organization (WHO) (WHO, 2020). Participants’ body composition including body fat mass (BF) (kg), lean body mass (measured through fat free mass) (kg), and visceral fat rating (%) was measured. The cut-off point of the percentage BF was 25% and 35% for men and women, respectively. FFM-I was calculated by dividing the fat-free mass (kg) by height squared (m2). For women, the cut-off value was <15 kg/m2 and for men, <17 kg/m2 (Cederholm, 2016), indicative of malnutrition. Accordingly, participants were assigned into 2 groups: adequate muscle mass (AMM) ones and low muscle mass (LMM) ones.