Body image concerns in young women

Progressive increase in the prevalence of obesity in the past two decades across the world (1) was noticed, where several countries reported high prevalence of body image dissatisfaction specially among women (2), resulting in issues with their self-esteem, well-being, acceptance from social groups, job opportunities, socioeconomic status, productivity and psychosocial performances(3). In adolescents, high levels of body dissatisfaction were associated with obesity and psychosocial impairment. 

Previously, worries regarding weight gain and attempts to maintain body weight control were often seen as irrational and dangerous, especially among young girls. They were considered to pursue unrealistic thin-body ideals, which would be detrimental to their overall health (4). Nevertheless, taking a look at weight perception reveals that this problem is not confined to people who are thin yet believe themselves to be overweight; there are also many overweight people who are unaware of the excessiveness of their weight (5)

An international insight on weight control is necessary to recognise obesity as a global problem (6).

References:

1. Flegal KM, Carroll MD, Kuczmarski RJ, Johnson CL. Overweight and obesity in the United States: prevalence and trends, 1960– 1994. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 1998; 22: 39–47.
2. Neighbors L, Sobal J. Prevalence and magnitude of body weight and shape dissatisfaction among university students. Eat Behav. 2007;8:429–39.
3. van den Berg P, Thompson JK, Obremski-Brandon K, Coovert M. The Tripartite Influence model of body image and eating disturbance: a covariance structure modeling investigation testing the mediational role of appearance comparison. J Psychosom Res. 2002;53:1007–20.
4. Mond J, van den Berg P, Boutelle K, Hannan P, Neumark-Sztainer. Obesity, body dissatisfaction, and emotional well-being in early and late adolescence: findings from the project EAT study. J Adolescent Health. 2011;48:373–8.
5. Wardle J, Johnson F. Weight and dieting: examining levels of weight concern in British adults. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 2002; 26: 1144–1149.
6. Wardle, J., Haase, A. M., & Steptoe, A. (2006). Body image and weight control in young adults: international comparisons in university students from 22 countries. International journal of obesity, 30(4), 644-651.