Body image dissatisfaction: gender differences in eating attitudes, self-esteem, and reasons for exercise
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Updated: Sep 27, 2026

Validation of a Psychosocial Intervention on Body Image in Older People: An Experimental Design
Published on: May 31, 2021
Adrian Furnham1, Nicola Badmin, Ian Sneade
1Department of Psychology, University College London. ucjtsaf@ucl.ac.uk
Abstract:
Two hundred and thirty-five adolescents completed a questionnaire on the subject of eating attitudes, self-esteem, reasons for exercise, and their ideal versus current body size and shape. As predicted, boys were as likely to want to be heavier as lighter, whereas very few girls desired to be heavier. Only girls associated body dissatisfaction with the concept of self-esteem. Male self-esteem was not affected by body dissatisfaction. Specific reasons for exercise were found to correlate with low self-esteem and disordered eating, regardless of sex. The results are discussed in relation to burgeoning published research in this area.
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