Imagen corporal en universitarios del noreste de México: estudio comparativo por sexo

The aim of this study was to compare men and women, aspects related to body image: their Body Mass Index (BMI), (in) satisfaction with body image, and knowing the way they see themselves (actual-self), how they would like to see themselves (ideal-self) and how they see their peers. Methods: The sample consisted of 300 university students from the northeastern region of Mexico, with an average age of 20.53 (S. D. = 2.19) and a descriptive, cross-sectional descriptive and comparative design was used. Results: We found a higher prevalence of overweight and obesity in men, a greater proportion of women are concerned about gaining weight and wish to change some part of their body, and they also reported being more dissatisfied with their body image due to the desire to lose weight, regardless of their BMI; and significant differences were found in the way they look (actual-self) and the way they would like to see (ideal-self) between men and women. In conclusion: These discrepancies can be explained through the ideal of beauty that has been socially transmitted, where what is desirable for women is thinness, while in men it is the gain of muscle.