Survey on body image, weight, and diet of college students

Abstract

In this study, college students visiting a university health service were categorized according to various anthropometric measurements and completed a questionnaire. Fifty-five per cent of the men were realistic in their self-perception of body size, but 63 per cent of the women perceived themselves to be one category of weight higher than they actually were. Fifty-six per cent of the students sampled (but only 60 per cent of those who were dissatisfied with their body images) said they were modifying their eating practices. The majority of students were realistic in their goals for weight loss, but 46 per cent of the women wanted to be underweight or slightly underweight.