HEALTH

Adolescent body image perceptions shape dietary habits, study finds

A recent study published in Nutrition Reviews reviewed the current literature to determine the association between dietary habits and body image perception and satisfaction in adolescents. Adolescents’ self-image concerns, influenced by opinions and pressures from family, peers, and social media, can trigger unhealthy dietary habits. The study conducted a systematic review of case-control, cross-sectional, or cohort studies in English, Spanish, or French, examining the association between dietary habits and body image perception and satisfaction among adolescents aged 10 to 18 years. The results were heterogeneous, indicating that the association between body image perceptions and dietary habits varied across studies. The study found that adolescents who underestimated their body weight had more unhealthy eating habits than those who overestimated their body weight. Girls generally desired to be thinner but showed higher adherence to healthy dietary habits, while boys, who had fewer healthy dietary habits, were more interested in being muscular and gaining weight

  • Bodega, P., de CosGandoy, A., Fernández Alvira, J. M., et al. (2023). Body image and dietary habits in adolescents: a systematic review. Nutrition Reviews. doi:10.1093/nutrit/nuad044
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