Body Image, Perceived Physical Fitness, Physical Activity, Body Mass Index and Age in Women

Abstract

<strong>Background:</strong> Body image is an important factor in women's lives. <strong>Objectives:</strong> The purpose of the current study was to explore the association among body image, perceived physical fitness and its subscales, physical activity, body mass index and age in women. <strong>Patients and Methods:</strong> This cross-sectional study was carried out on a sample of 82 women from University of Tabriz staff and masters. Participants were selected through convenience sampling. Individual characteristics, physical activity rate, body image and perceived physical fitness questionnaires were completed. Data were analyzed by Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Pearson's correlation coefficient and regression. <strong>Results:</strong> The results of the study indicated a significant linear association of body image with body mass index (r = 0.769, P = 0.0001), body composition (r = 0.587, P = 0.0001), and aerobic endurance (r = - 0.229, P = 0.038). In addition, there was no significant linear relationship between physical activity and other variables, except for flexibility (r = 0.258, P = 0.019) and age (r = 0.418, P = 0.0001). Regression analysis showed that physical self-perception, aerobic endurance, body composition, muscular strength, flexibility, and body mass index could predict 64% of the variance of body image. <strong>Conclusions:</strong> Physical self-perception and its factors along with body mass index are important to build up body image. Some interpretations and limitations about physical activity motives and measurements were also cited.