Body Appreciation, Weight Status, and Weight Management Practices Among First-Year Students at Universities of...

Background and Objectives: The associations between body appreciation, weight status, and weight management practices are influenced by societal, cultural, and psychological factors. Studies indicated that a higher level of body appreciation is linked to lower engagement in unhealthy weight management practices. The transition from high school to university is a significant life event, often accompanied by substantial lifestyle changes that can affect students' body image and weight-related behaviours. This study aimed to assess the associations between body appreciation, weight status, and weight management behaviours among first-year students at four universities of applied sciences in Lithuania. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in 2022 among 709 first-year students (216 males and 493 females) at the four largest universities of applied sciences in Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda, and Šiauliai. Body appreciation was assessed using the Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2), whilst BMI was calculated from self-reported height and weight. Students were asked about their weight management practices. Logistic regression analysis was applied to evaluate associations between weight management behaviours, body appreciation, and weight status. Results: Female students had a significantly lower median BMI (21.1 kg/m²) than males (23.3 kg/m²) but were more likely to perceive themselves as overweight (34.5% vs. 17.1%), worry about gaining weight (40.6% vs. 11.6%), and attempt weight loss (52.5% vs. 23.6%) (all p < 0.001). Higher BAS scores were associated with greater accuracy in weight perception, higher satisfaction with body weight, and fewer concerns about weight gain. Students with lower BAS scores were more likely to engage in harmful weight-control behaviours such as smoking (OR = 0.07; 95% CI: 0.02-0.25 for high vs. low BAS) and were more strongly influenced by media beauty standards and dissatisfaction with appearance. Conclusions: Body appreciation is linked to healthier weight perceptions and behaviours. Interventions that enhance body appreciation may help reduce body dissatisfaction and prevent unhealthy weight control practices, especially among female students.