Premium
Behaviors Associated with Muscularity Dissatisfaction of Male High School Students in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region
Author(s) -
Chongwatpol Pitipa,
Gates Gail
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.29.1_supplement.733.13
Subject(s) - psychology , physical activity , metropolitan area , weight management , body weight , demography , food choice , gerontology , medicine , obesity , weight loss , physical therapy , endocrinology , pathology , sociology
The objective of this study was to assess muscularity dissatisfaction, weight management practices, food choice behaviors, and physical activity of male high school students in Thailand. 1056 male students from 7 schools in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region participated in the study. A questionnaire was used to obtain participants' height, weight, body image perception, food choice behaviors, physical activity, and weight management practices. A male‐specific body image scale by Winitch was used to assess for muscularity dissatisfaction (when a discrepancy exists between current and ideal figure). The dissatisfaction was classified into no dissatisfaction (ND: n=107), wanted to increase muscularity (IM: n=869), and wanted to decrease muscularity (DM: n=80). Current BMI of the IM group (21.0 kg/m 2 ) was significantly lower than ND and DM groups (22.5 and 23.4 kg/m 2 ). Physical activity and food choice behaviors were not significantly different between the 3 groups. However, the IM group reported using fewer weight management practices (6.8 practices) compared to the ND and DM groups (8.3 and 9.1 practices). More than 60% of the participants in the DM group reported eating less food and fat, changing eating habits, and increasing exercise to lose weight and/or body fat. While approximately 55% of participants in the IM groups exercised and ate more protein to increase muscle. In conclusion, more than 80% of male students wanted to increase their muscularity. Adolescents with different types of muscularity dissatisfaction had similar physical activity and food choice behaviors; however, they used different weight management practices to achieve their desired body figure.