title: Body image and body change strategies among Tongan adolescents in Tonga and New Zealand.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the body image and body change strategies of adolescents from Tonga, and Tongans who are resident New Zealand.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 598 Tongans from Tonga and 388 Tongans from New Zealand completed measures of body image, body change strategies and messages about their body.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tongans in Tonga were more likely to receive positive messages about a larger body from adults at school, church and the media, and losing weight from the media. They were also more likely to adopt strategies to lose weight, increase weight and increase muscles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The large body ideal appears to be still valued in Tonga, whereas Tongans also want to lose weight because of media messages to achieve a healthy body weight.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia. marita.mccabe@deakin.edu.au
authors.forename: Marita P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: McCabe
authors.forename: Kalesita
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fotu
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mavoa
authors.forename: Gavin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Faeamani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012649:Self Concept; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014058:Tonga