The relationship between dieting and body image, body ideal, self-perception, and body mass index in Turkish adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
The current study examined the roles of body image, ideal body weight, self-perception, and body mass index (BMI) on the dieting behavior of Turkish adolescents.


METHODS
The 531 subjects who participated in the study ranged from 15 to 17 years old and were recruited from five selected high schools in Ankara. They completed the Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents (SPPA), the Body Image Satisfaction Questionnaire (BISQ), and the Dieting Status Measure (DiSM). Height and weight were measured.


RESULTS
Dieting adolescents received significantly lower scores than nondieters for most of the BISQ items and for the physical appearance and global self-worth subscales of the SPPA. A thinner body ideal, the physical appearance domain of self-concept, and low global self-worth were the predicting factors of frequent dieting. However, BMI and body image dissatisfaction were not predicting factors.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that a thinner body ideal, low self-worth, and low physical self-concept have more significant effects on body dissatisfaction and dieting than being actually overweight does. Furthermore, high physical self-concept scores and body satisfaction may not necessarily preclude having a thinner body ideal and, hence, dieting in girls.
Canpolat
Banu Isik
BI
Department of Adolescent Psychiatry, SSK Ankara Training Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. banuic@aol.com
Orsel
Sibel
S
Akdemir
Asena
A
Ozbay
M Haluk
MH
D000293:Adolescent; D001290:Attitude / Q000208:ethnology*; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012649:Self Concept; D012928:Social Desirability; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey