%0 Journal Article
%T Body Weight Concerns among Urban Adolescent Girls: A Microlevel Study
%A Susmita Mukhopadhyay
%A Nandini Ganguly
%A Shailendra Kumar Mishra
%J Journal of Anthropology
%D 2014
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2014/264925
%X Growing consciousness about ideal body image leads to dietary modifications and consequent eating disorders among girls in developing countries like India. The present study aims to (i) assess the prevalence of body weight consciousness and related behaviours among a group of adolescent girls; (ii) assess the sociodemographic correlates of weight related behaviours; and (iii) compare weight related behaviours of the girls of two religious groups residing in Howrah. The study is the outcome of a cross-sectional school based survey involving 280 (159 Hindu and 121 Muslim) girls from standards 8 to 11. Significant differences exist between two religious groups with respect to their family size, socioeconomic profile, and media exposures (in terms of watching television). Consciousness about body weight among girls shows significant difference with respect to religion, family size ( ), father¡¯s occupation ( ), level of education of both the parents, and media exposure ( ). Consciousness about body weight drives them to adopt several behavioural measures like calorie restriction, food avoidance, and dieting. Sociodemographic correlates of all these behaviours have been analyzed. The study documents that concern over body image and weight loss is quite important among these urban girls. 1. Introduction Consciousness over body image and losing weight has become very common among adolescent girls. Modernized societies prefer thinness and socially discriminate against obese individuals. Incidence of obesity is also on the rise as a result of excessive consumption of processed foods, high fat diets, and less exercise [1, 2]. Dietary pattern of a population group is generally governed by its socioeconomic and cultural characteristics along with their exposure to outside world [3]. Weight related conditions like disordered eating behaviours adversely affect the growth process, psychosocial development, and physical health of young people [4]. Thus, unhealthy eating habits among adolescents pose serious public health concerns [5]. Dissatisfaction over body image followed by unhealthy eating habits and attitudes may be a risk factor for the development of eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa [6]. Both these disorders are common among adolescents, who often remain confused regarding what constitutes overweight, normal weight, and underweight. Body image dissatisfaction and a desire to be thinner are two most important motivating factors for dieting among majority of teenagers [7]. Driven by the feeling of dissatisfaction over body image,
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/janthro/2014/264925/