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Published on: May 8, 2018
The Association of Eating Behaviours, and Self-Concept, With Weight Status of Indian Adolescents
Shivangi Choudhary1, Anmol Bhandari2, Suninder Tung1
1Department of Psychology, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, India.
Background:
The epidemiological and sociocultural context of Indian adolescents is rapidly changing, thus affecting their eating behaviours and increasing overweight and obesity prevalence.
Objectives:
The current study was aimed at exploring associations of problematic eating behaviours and self-concept with overweight/obesity in adolescents.
Methods:
This cross-sectional study was conducted in six schools in Punjab, India, and enrolled 538 randomly selected adolescents aged 10-16 years. The cut-off of > 23rd adult equivalent BMI for overweight/obesity and < 23rd adult equivalent for healthy weight (IAP, 2015) was used. The Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire Revised 18-item version and Piers-Harris Self-Concept Scale were used. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to quantify linear relationships among eating behaviours, self-concept and BMI-based weight status. An independent t-test was applied to determine eating behaviour and self-concept variations.
Results:
Eating behaviour such as cognitive restraint showed a statistically significant positive correlation with BMI in adolescents (p ≤ 0.001). Higher cognitive restraint significantly increased the probability of being overweight/obese (odds ratio [OR] = 1.153; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.097-1.211). Physical appearance (PHY) and happiness and satisfaction (HAP) domains of adolescents' self-concept showed a significant negative correlation with BMI. In girls, the domain of social acceptance (SOC) showed a significant negative correlation with BMI.
Conclusion:
The study highlights the relationship of overweight/obesity with certain aspects of problematic eating behaviours as well as self-concept in adolescents. These findings warrant further longitudinal studies to establish causality, which may provide a comprehensive understanding of the epidemic of adolescent overweight/obesity in India.
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