Correlation between Health Perception, Body Image, and Eating Habits in High School Students
Abstract: Mental disorders,
including eating disorders, mostly begin during youth. Moreover, negative body
image is found to cause unhealthy eating habits in the context of several
cross-cultural settings. This study aimed to examine the correlation between
health perception and body image with eating habits among high school students.
Methods: A structured, anonymous questionnaire was distributed to
students of a private high school in Bandung, Indonesia in June-October 2014.
The questionnaire included questions about health perception, body image,
eating habits, body weight and height, and also other demographic parameters.
The school was selected as the study object through purposive sampling, and 140
high school students (72 male and 68 female) were ramdomly selected.
Results: Male and female did not show considerable differences in health
perceptions. Out of 13 statements, 12 statements of male respondents showed
better body image than female. While in eating habits statements, female
respondents seemed to maintain healthier eating habits than male respondents.
No significant correlation was observed between body image and eating habits
(r=-0.015, p=0.858). There was significant correlation between health
perception and eating habits (r=0.374, p<0.001). Correlation between sex and
eating habits was found (p=0.020), there was not significant relationship
between eating habits and Body Mass Index (BMI) (p=0.368).
Conclusions: The negative relationship between body image and eating habits
is not significant. However there was a significant positive relationship
between health perception and eating habits. Furthermore, there was correlation
between sex and eating habits, while the positive relationship between eating
habits and BMI was still not found.
Keywords: Body image, body
mass index, health perception, high school students, nutritional habits.
Author: Abdullah Ichsan, Irvan
Afriandi, Dida Akhmad Gurnida
Journal Code: jpkedokterangg160227
