BODY IMAGE DISSATISFACTION AND ASSOCIATED BEHAVIOURAL FACTORS AMONG PRE-UNIVERSITY COLLEGE ADOLESCENTS IN BANGALORE: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Body image dissatisfaction (BID) is increasingly recognised as an important public health issue during adolescence, a period characterised by rapid physical, emotional, and sociocultural transitions. In India, evidence regarding BID among pre-university college (PUC) students remains sparse, and studies that include both male and female adolescents are particularly limited. To determine the prevalence of BID among PUC students in Bangalore and to examine its associations with body mass index (BMI), dietary behaviours, physical activity, and perceived sociocultural pressures. This cross-sectional study was conducted from October to December 2024 among 400 PUC students attending a college in Bangalore. Body image dissatisfaction was assessed using the validated Body Shape Questionnaire-16B (BSQ-16B). Participants were categorised into two groups: moderate-to-marked concern versus no-to-mild concern. Bivariate associations were examined using chi-square tests, and independent predictors were identified through binary logistic regression. The mean age of participants was 16.84 ± 1.70 years (51.5% male, 48.5% female). Overall, 22.5% of adolescents reported moderate-to-marked body image dissatisfaction. Overweight/obesity (p = 0.009), perceived pressure to alter body fat levels (p = 0.001), perceived pressure to attain a better physique (p = 0.001), and deliberate meal skipping (p = 0.001) were significantly associated with BID on bivariate analysis. After multivariable adjustment, meal skipping remained the only independent predictor (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 24.63; 95% CI: 8.64–70.18; p < 0.001). No statistically significant sex difference in BID was observed. BID is prevalent among PUC adolescents in Bangalore. Deliberate meal skipping is a strong independent predictor of BID, underscoring the need for college-based interventions that promote body positivity, healthy dietary practices, and critical media literacy.