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Updated: Jul 3, 2026

Clinical Anthropometrics and Body Composition from 3-Dimensional Optical Imaging
Published on: June 7, 2024
Relationship between body image and body mass index in college men
Julia A Watkins1, Catherine Christie, Pamela Chally
1University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL 32224-2673, USA. jwatkins@unf.edu
Objective And Participants:
The authors examined cognitive and affective dimensions of body image of a randomized sample of 188 college men on the basis of body mass index (BMI).
Methods:
They conducted chi-square tests and ANOVAs to determine differences between 4 BMI groups (underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese) on demographics and body image measures.
Results:
The authors found significant differences in regard to total body image (p < .001), weight or shape concern (p < .001), and body dissatisfaction (p < .001). BMI was significantly correlated with negative body image. Overweight and obese participants reported significantly higher levels of negative body image than did normal- and underweight participants. Overweight participants reported significantly higher weight and shape concerns than did underweight, normal-weight, and obese participants. In regard to body dissatisfaction, underweight, overweight, and obese participants reported significantly higher levels of body dissatisfaction than that reported by normal-weight participants.
Conclusions:
BMI may be an important factor in identifying potential body image disorders in college-aged men.
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