Prevalence of body shape dissatisfaction and body weight dissatisfaction between female and male students

The objective of this study was to determine the magnitude of body weight dissatisfaction and body shape dissatisfaction between men and women. Participants were 369 (female: 204; male: 165) undergraduate student of Razi University. Age, height, weight, BMI, marital status, sport activity, economic status, Current and desired body weight and body mass index, Body weight dissatisfaction, Body shape dissatisfaction, Desired shape of parents' view, Desired shape of opposite sex view, Body weight/size importance and Weight loss attempts data were collected. Chi-squared (x2) tests were used to examine differences in proportions of categorical variables. Independent samples t-test, Paired t-test, Bonferroni post-hoc test and Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted in current study. There was a significant difference between women and men in BMI, Desired BMI, Body Weight Dissatisfaction and Body Shape Dissatisfaction (p < .001). Also results of the Chi-square analysis revealed a non-significant association between gender and Body weight/size importance and gender and Weight loss attempts. Abs. val. body dissatisfaction had maximum effect on the Body Weight Dissatisfaction in both males and females. Among females, Body Weight Dissatisfaction was greater among those with higher levels of Abs. Val. Body Dissatisfaction and Desired shape of opposite sex view. Desired shape of parent's view was associated with lower Body Weight Dissatisfaction while Age, Economic status, Body Size Importance, Weight Loss Attempts, Current BMI, Marital status, Sport activity were unrelated to Body Weight Dissatisfaction. Generally, there was a satisfactory level of dissatisfaction with physical condition of both male and female students. It is noteworthy that the dissatisfaction between two sexes is different, meaning that because of the social-cultural criteria, women tend to be skinny and men to be muscular. Since present study has been carried out in the Islamic society of Iran, and in Islamic societies, the Hijab of women plays a significant role in the appearance of women. It is likely that the findings of this study are in contradiction with other related studies conducted in Western societies.