How College Students in South India Feel About Their Bodies and Its Impact on Mental Health

What is it about?

This study looked at how college students in coastal Karnataka, India, feel about their bodies. It explored whether being unhappy with one’s body is connected to mental health issues like low self-esteem, anxiety, or depression. Why does this matter? How we see and feel about our bodies can seriously affect our mental and emotional health. Students, especially in highly competitive academic environments, may feel pressure to look a certain way. Understanding this can help educators and health professionals better support student well-being. What we did ? We surveyed 382 college students aged 18 and above. Participants rated their body image, self-esteem, anxiety, and depression using established questionnaires. The students also gave their height and weight so that their BMI (Body Mass Index) could be calculated. What did we find ? About 73% of students were unhappy with their body image. Many wished to be thinner, even if their weight was in the normal range. Those who were overweight or obese were much more likely to be unhappy with their bodies. Students with more body image dissatisfaction often had lower self-esteem and showed signs of anxiety and depression. Interestingly, some students who reported no concern about body shape were still dissatisfied—suggesting that our tools for measuring this might not capture the full picture.

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Photo by Hannah Xu on Unsplash

Photo by Hannah Xu on Unsplash

Why is it important?

The findings suggest that body image dissatisfaction is common, even among students with healthy weights. This dissatisfaction can negatively affect mental health. It's important to create supportive, inclusive environments in colleges that: Promote body positivity Encourage mental wellness Educate students about realistic body standards

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