Body size ideals, beliefs and dissatisfaction in Ghanaian adolescents: sociodemographic determinants and intercorrelations

- Body dissatisfaction existed at both extremes of body weight (i.e. underweight and overweight).
- Sexual attractiveness and health beliefs predicted body size ideals.
- Weight-related teasing was common and could affect body esteem negatively.

BackgroundUnderstanding the sociocultural perception of body size and its relation to body weight management is essential for policy and intervention planning. Herein, African adolescents deserve special interest because of a possible shift in body size ideals due to globalization and because of adolescence as a vulnerable stage of life. Therefore, the objective of this study was to explore body size beliefs and its determinants (sociodemographic and beliefs) in Ghanaian adolescents. Furthermore, the association of these ideals with body size dissatisfaction and measured body size was examined to detect the link with well-being and overweight.MethodsA cross-sectional study involving 370 adolescents (53% girls, 11-18y) from the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area in Ghana was conducted. Questionnaires on body size beliefs were administered and anthropometric measurements were obtained. Body size ideals and dissatisfaction were based on the Stunkard figure rating scale. Multinomial, ordinal and linear regressions were adjusted for gender, age and parental education.ResultsThough 64% preferred the normal-weight ideal, the traditional preference for the overweight ideal was still present. Body size dissatisfaction was higher in adolescents who preferred the overweight or underweight ideal. Both underweight and overweight adolescents reported teasing. Sexual attractiveness and health beliefs were predictors of body ideals, but beliefs on the role of lifestyle were not.ConclusionsThe associations of the ideal body size with beliefs show that promoting the normal-sized body as healthy might be a good way to influence ideals in this population. Interventions should stimulate body esteem and a healthy lifestyle without extremes.