A Study on Assess and Correlations between Eating Attitudes, Body Image Perception and Self-esteem in Medical Students of Mumbai

Abstract

Adolescents and young adults place significant value to appearance. Medical students are likely to be vulnerable to dissatisfaction with appearance and maladaptive eating attitudes. This study was designed to study the eating attitudes, body image perception, and self-esteem in MBBS students and their correlations with each other and with body mass index (BMI), to identify students at risk and possibly plan measures for intervention. A study was conducted on 700 medical students (including interns), with electronic questionnaires assessing sociodemographic data, eating attitudes, body image perception, and self-esteem. Using the Chi-square tests and t-tests, the parameters were studied and correlations using Spearman’s rank correlation were established. Students with a higher BMI were at a greater risk of eating disorder (ED), higher concerns with body perception, and lowered self-esteem. Those with a higher risk of ED were associated with body dissatisfaction and lower self-esteem. Body image distortions were associated with low self-esteem. ED risk is associated with body dissatisfaction and lower self-esteem in medical students. Future studies are required to establish this relation.