Factors associated with body dissatisfaction among the Lebanese population

Eat Weight Disord. 2019 Jun;24(3):507-519. doi: 10.1007/s40519-018-00634-z. Epub 2019 Jan 17.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the factors associated with body dissatisfaction among the Lebanese population, including sociodemographic characteristics, self-esteem, stress, anxiety, depression, emotional regulation, emotional eating and the adult attachment style.

Methods: This cross-sectional study, conducted between January and May 2018, enrolled 811 adult participants from all districts of Lebanon. The body dissatisfaction subscale of the eating disorder inventory version 2 (EDI-2) was used to measure body disturbance.

Results: The mean age of the participants was 27.59 ± 11.76 years, with 66.5% females. The final model of the regression analysis showed that a higher binge eating score (Beta = 0.202), being married (Beta = 1.233), having a family history of eating disorders (Beta = 1.933), higher BMI (Beta = 0.076), dieting to lose weight (past 30 days) (Beta = 2.345), receiving comments from the family (Beta = 2.234) and pressure from TV/magazines to lose weight (Beta = 1.320), vomiting or taking laxatives to lose weight (past 30 days) (Beta = 1.861), higher depression (Beta = 0.103) and higher perceived stress (Beta = 0.107) were associated with a higher body dissatisfaction score. However, higher self-esteem (Beta = - 0.246), increased physical activity (Beta = - 0.022) and being divorced (Beta = - 4.226) were significantly associated with a lower body dissatisfaction score.

Conclusion: A significant association was found in this current study between the main variables: depression, self-esteem, social anxiety, eating disorders, family and television pressure and body image dissatisfaction.

Level of evidence: Level V, cross-sectional descriptive study.

Keywords: Body dissatisfaction; Diet; Distress; Eating disorder; Psychological factors.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Anxiety / psychology
  • Body Image / psychology*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Depression / psychology
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lebanon
  • Male
  • Object Attachment
  • Personal Satisfaction*
  • Self Concept*
  • Stress, Psychological / psychology*
  • Young Adult