Changes in body image and dieting among 16–19-year-old Icelandic students from 2000 to 2010

• Body image became more positive among adolescent females and males from 2000 to 2010.
• Females reported more negative body image than males at all four time points.
• Dieting frequency decreased among females but increased among males from 2000 to 2010.
• Females were more likely to go on diets than males at all time points.

The aim of the study was to evaluate trends in body image and dieting among 16–19-year-old students in Iceland from 2000 to 2010. Data from four cross-sectional surveys conducted among Icelandic students in 26 junior colleges using four time points were compared to examine changes in body image and dieting. In total, 33,801 students with the mean age of 17.3 years participated. Body image became significantly more positive over the 10-year period for both genders. At all time points, females reported more negative body image than males and a higher proportion of dieters were females than males. There was a decrease in the frequency of dieting among females over time but an increase among males, resulting in a narrower gender gap in dieting. Further examination of these trends in body image and dieting may reveal differences in causal mechanisms behind negative body image and dieting between the genders.