ArticleBMC public health2024
Body image, eating distress and emotional-behavioral difficulties among adolescents in Mbarara, Southwestern Uganda.
Article in BMC public health, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Body, Emotions, and Hormones: A Systematic Review of Body Dissatisfaction, Emotion Regulation, and Puberty in Adolescence.Journal of adolescence · 2026Pooled it
- Starving for Data: Eating Disorders Prevalence and Research Gaps in Southern Africa.The International journal of eating disorders · 2026Review
- Eating disorders among medical students at a private university in Uganda: a cross-sectional study.Journal of eating disorders · 2025Article
- Body Image Perception, Eating Habits, and Nutritional Status of Female University Students: A Case of Makerere University, Uganda.Journal of nutrition and metabolism · 2025Article
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5 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundAdolescents frequently have emotional and behavioral difficulties as they struggle with the challenges of transition from childhood to adulthood. Many struggle with issues of body image and eating distress as they deal with the difficult and frequently perplexing changes that occur with puberty. Yet there is surprisingly little research on the emotional and behavioral challenges, as well as body image and eating distress among this sizable population in Uganda. This study sought to assess attitudes and behaviors related to body image and eating distress, as well as emotional and behavioral difficulties among adolescents in Mbarara, Southwestern Uganda.
methodsThis was a cross-sectional study among 788 adolescents aged 13 to 19 years in secondary schools in Mbarara city and Mbarara district in south-western Uganda. The study employed the Body Image and Eating Distress scale to assess attitudes and behaviors about dieting and body shape and the extended version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) to assess for perceived emotional and behavioral difficulties. Logistic regression was used to identify the association between body image and eating distress and perceived difficulties.
resultsThe prevalence of high body image and eating distress was 10.8% while that of perceived emotional and behavioral difficulties was 45.8%. Some of the adolescents (16.1%) were dissatisfied with their body shape, 24.6% exercised a lot to avoid gaining weight, 15.0% were terrified to gain even a little weight, and 12.1% could not control their eating. More males reported eating large amounts of food at one time (p = < 0.001). Having emotional and behavioral difficulties (aOR: 1.89; 95% CI: 1.18 - 3.02; p = 0.019) and coming from a two-parent household (aOR: 1.79; 95% CI: 1.10 - 2.92; p = 0.019) increased the odds of high body image and eating distress.
conclusionHigh levels of body image and eating distress are linked to behavioral and emotional problems and adolescent's family structure. Clinicians who treat adolescents should use a holistic care strategy and be aware of the high prevalence and close association between emotional and behavioral difficulties, concerns about weight, and dieting. It is important to encourage parental involvement and support in providing information about mental health issues among adolescents.
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