Body weight concern among female university students in five Arab countries – a preliminary cross-cultural study
Objective The aim of this study was to explore some body weight concerns among females at university in five Arab countries. Material and Methods The sample comprised 1,134 females aged 17–32 from universities in five Arab countries: Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Oman and Syria. A pretested questionnaire...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Institute of Rural Health
2015-05-01
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| Series: | Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.journalssystem.com/aaem/Body-weight-concern-among-female-university-students-in-five-Arab-countries-a-preliminary-cross-cultural-study,72288,0,2.html |
| _version_ | 1818475814462685184 |
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| author | Abdulrahman Musaiger |
| author_facet | Abdulrahman Musaiger |
| author_sort | Abdulrahman Musaiger |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective
The aim of this study was to explore some body weight concerns among females at university in five Arab countries.
Material and Methods
The sample comprised 1,134 females aged 17–32 from universities in five Arab countries: Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Oman and Syria. A pretested questionnaire was used to determine the aspects of body weight concern.
Results
Approximately 32% – 39% of females were dissatisfied with their weight, 17% – 31% wanted their body shape to be similar to Western fashion models, and 5% – 16% believed that men preferred plump women. Of the females, 22–37% had dieted to lose weight during the six months prior to the study, and 8–15% performed exercises to improve body shape most of the time. The differences in body weight concerns were statistically significant between countries.
Conclusions
Body weight concern is relatively highly prevalent among young Arab women; however the prevalence varied between countries, mainly due to differences in socio-cultural background between countries. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T09:17:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f0404365342d4bda9ab0f6f0aca9a8ae |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1232-1966 1898-2263 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T09:17:27Z |
| publishDate | 2015-05-01 |
| publisher | Institute of Rural Health |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-f0404365342d4bda9ab0f6f0aca9a8ae2022-12-22T01:54:48ZengInstitute of Rural HealthAnnals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine1232-19661898-22632015-05-0122234935210.5604/12321966.115209372288Body weight concern among female university students in five Arab countries – a preliminary cross-cultural studyAbdulrahman Musaiger0Arab Center for Nutrition, Manama, BahrainObjective The aim of this study was to explore some body weight concerns among females at university in five Arab countries. Material and Methods The sample comprised 1,134 females aged 17–32 from universities in five Arab countries: Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Oman and Syria. A pretested questionnaire was used to determine the aspects of body weight concern. Results Approximately 32% – 39% of females were dissatisfied with their weight, 17% – 31% wanted their body shape to be similar to Western fashion models, and 5% – 16% believed that men preferred plump women. Of the females, 22–37% had dieted to lose weight during the six months prior to the study, and 8–15% performed exercises to improve body shape most of the time. The differences in body weight concerns were statistically significant between countries. Conclusions Body weight concern is relatively highly prevalent among young Arab women; however the prevalence varied between countries, mainly due to differences in socio-cultural background between countries.http://www.journalssystem.com/aaem/Body-weight-concern-among-female-university-students-in-five-Arab-countries-a-preliminary-cross-cultural-study,72288,0,2.htmlArabbody perceptiondietingslimmingphysical activityuniversity students |
| spellingShingle | Abdulrahman Musaiger Body weight concern among female university students in five Arab countries – a preliminary cross-cultural study Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine Arab body perception dieting slimming physical activity university students |
| title | Body weight concern among female university students in five Arab countries – a preliminary cross-cultural study |
| title_full | Body weight concern among female university students in five Arab countries – a preliminary cross-cultural study |
| title_fullStr | Body weight concern among female university students in five Arab countries – a preliminary cross-cultural study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Body weight concern among female university students in five Arab countries – a preliminary cross-cultural study |
| title_short | Body weight concern among female university students in five Arab countries – a preliminary cross-cultural study |
| title_sort | body weight concern among female university students in five arab countries a preliminary cross cultural study |
| topic | Arab body perception dieting slimming physical activity university students |
| url | http://www.journalssystem.com/aaem/Body-weight-concern-among-female-university-students-in-five-Arab-countries-a-preliminary-cross-cultural-study,72288,0,2.html |
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