Relación entre la percepción de la imagen corporal y la composición corporal en estudiantes universitarios

Body image perception and body composition are interrelated factors that significantly impact the health and well-being of university students. A cross-sectional, descriptive, and correlational study was conducted with 646 students aged 18 to 28, from various faculties. Body image perception was assessed using the BSQ-8D questionnaire, and body composition was analyzed through anthropometric measurements, following ISAK protocols. The data were processed in SPSS V22, using descriptive statistics and the Kruskal-Walli’s test, to explore the relationship between the variables. Results were considered significant with a p-value < 0.05. 50.3% of students showed no concern about their body image, while 11.8% showed moderate or extreme concern, which was more frequent among women (p = 0.000). Regarding body composition, 67% of participants fell within the normal body mass index (BMI) range, 21.1% were overweight, and 5% had grade I obesity. The Kruskal-Wallis test revealed a significant association between BMI and body image perception (p = 0.000), while brachial muscle area (BMA) and fat percentage showed no significant relationship with this perception. Most students did not report concerns about their body image and had a normal body composition. A significant association was found between BMI and body image perception, whereas body fat percentage and BMR showed no relationship.