Eating behaviour, body image, and self-esteem of adolescent girls in Malaysia

Percept Mot Skills. 2008 Jun;106(3):833-44. doi: 10.2466/pms.106.3.833-844.

Abstract

This cross-sectional study was undertaken with 489 secondary school girls, ages 15-17 years, to examine disordered eating behaviours of adolescent girls in Malaysia and to estimate associations with body weight, body-size discrepancy, and self-esteem. Dietary restraint, binge eating, body image, and self-esteem were assessed using the Restrained Eating scale of the Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire, the Binge Scale Questionnaire, the Contour Drawing Rating Scale, and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, respectively. Pearson correlations estimated associations between variables. There were 3.1% underweight, 9.8% at risk of being overweight, and 8.6% overweight girls. A total of 87.3% were dissatisfied with their own body size. Dietary restraint and binge eating were reported by 36.0% and 35.4%, respectively. Body Mass Index (r = .34, p < .01) and body-size dissatisfaction (r = .24, p < .01) were significantly associated with dietary restraint and binge eating, but self-esteem (r = -.20, p < .001) was significantly associated only with binge eating.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adolescent Behavior / psychology
  • Body Height
  • Body Image*
  • Body Mass Index
  • Body Size
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Feeding Behavior / psychology*
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders / psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Malaysia
  • Obesity / diagnosis
  • Obesity / psychology
  • Overweight / diagnosis
  • Overweight / psychology
  • Personal Satisfaction
  • Personality Inventory
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Psychology, Adolescent*
  • Self Concept*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires