Relationship between body image perception and risky eating behaviours in a group of Instagram users

Abstract

Introduction: body image perception (BI) significantly influences food choices. The cult of the body as social pressure, together with body dissatisfaction, are factors that predispose to eating disorders (ED). There are manifestations similar to these that occur with less frequency and intensity, called risky eating behaviors (CAR, for its acronym in Spanish). Social networks influence the perception of BI and eating behaviors. The objective was to study the relationship between body image perception and CAR in a group of Instagram users in April 2023.

Materials and method: a quantitative, observational research was carried out on a group of Instagram users in April 2023. Sampling was non-probabilistic. Users of the social network between 18 and 60 years old who agreed to voluntarily participate in a survey were included. A form was used that included the Brief Questionnaire of Risk Eating Behaviors (CBCAR, for its acronym in Spanish) and the Body Shape Questionnaire-16 (BSQ-16), published in the authors’ Instagram stories.

Results: the sample was made up of 1107 people, mainly female and from 18 to 30 years old. The results showed that 59.7% reported concern about body image, especially the female gender. With respect to CARs, 45.3% presented some risk. It was observed that, the younger the age, the greater the concern about body image and the higher the CAR.

Conclusion: according to this study, the perception of body image is associated with CAR: the greater the concern about BI, the greater the presence of CAR. In addition, there is a relationship between the use of Instagram, the perception of BI and CAR. The lower the importance attributed to Instagram, the lower the concern about BI and the lower the CARs.