ASSOCIATION OF SELF- PERCEIVED BODY IMAGE AND OBESITY WITH EATING BEHAVIOR AMONG FEMALE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

The connection between self-image appraisal and obesity and eating behaviors must be examined to properly handle health problems which affect young women. The research investigates how body image factors with obesity levels determined by BMI to influence eating behaviors of female university students. The research implements descriptive methods while choosing 120 participants through multistage random sampling in four academic bodies. The research employed three standardized measures to assess the participants including the Body Image Ideals Questionnaire (BIQ) as well as BMI calculations and the Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26). Of all surveyed students 75% exhibited statistically significant positive relationships between their perceptions of their bodies and their food-related attitudes at different rates between educational units. The relationship between Body Mass Index and eating behavior fluctuated so researchers believe other external variables influence these behaviors. The presented findings establish that body image perception and unhealthy eating patterns require targeted intervention methods while researchers should explore psychosocial factors that shape eating behaviors in female university students.