The relation between physical activities, internalized appearance ideals and body composition among adolescent aged 16 – 17

Object of the study: the relation between adolescents physical activity, general ideal body internalization and body composition. Problem of research: considerable research has been devoted to understanding the effects of physical activity and has found a lot of benefits of it on a person’s health , physical capacity and self-esteem. However, few researchers have conducted studies with adolescents that directly examined the relation between internalized appearance ideals, weight control , drive for muscularity, body dissatisfaction, eating disorders and decreased physical activity and exercise according to the gender. Hypothesis: 1. Internalized appearance ideals are related to decrease physical activity and the discrepancy of actual body shape. 2. Internalized appearance ideals are related to decrease in exercise and the discrepancy of actual body shape. Aim: to examine the relationship between physical activities, regularity of exercise, ideal body internalization and actual body shape among adolescents aged 16-17 years. Objectives: 1. To examine perceived body image, actual body shape, self-esteem, drive for muscularity, risk factors of disordered eating in relation to physical activity, regularity of exercise and gender differences. 2. To examine relationship between perceived body image, actual body shape, drive for muscularity, disordered eating, gender, physical activity and regularity of exercise. 3. To examine the most significant factors in predicting low physical activity and exercise depending on gender. Conclusions: 1. We conclude, that boys’ self – esteem is higher that girls’ but girls are more tend to achieve an internalized image of ideal while drive for muscularity has been associated with boys. Eating disorders are more common with girls as they are more concerned about overweight. Also boys are more physically active that girls. Self – esteem, general ideal body internalization, drive for muscularity, eating disorders decrease physical activity and regularity of exercise. On the other hand, self – esteem, internalization athlete and eating disorders are related to increased physical activity. Regularity of exercise is influenced by self – esteem, internalization athlete, drive for muscularity and overall physical self – worth. 2. We conclude that ideal body internalization, body image, drive for muscularity, eating disorders increase physical inactivity, while self-esteem decreases physical inactivity. Low physical activity as well as physical inactivity are predicted by ideal body internalization and eating disorders. On the other hand, self-esteem and drive for muscularity are important in decreasing low regularity of exercise. 3. We conclude, that low self-esteem, concern about overweight negatively predict adolescent low physical activity. Overweight, disordered eating, low self-esteem are predictors of low physical activity among adolescent girls. Physical inactivity among adolescent boys is associated with low internalization athlete. Low regularity of exercise without no difference in gender is predicted overall physical self – worth, low self – esteem and drive for muscularity. Low regularity of exercise among adolescent girls is predicted by internalization athlete, eating disorders, low self – esteem, concern about overweight. Decreased regularity of exercise among adolescent boys is influenced by self-esteem