The Association between Body Mass Index, Religion Index, Media, and Body Image in Adolescents

BACKGROUND: Adolescents experience bio-psychosocial change in their developmental stages. These changes influence their perception about their body look. Some start to dislike their appearance. Someone‟s religiosity may protect them from the negative impact of the environment. Meanwhile, the mass media campaign about “slim ideal” for women and “shape and muscle” for men, is massive. This study aimed to examine the association between body mass index (BMI), religiosity, mass media, and body image in adolescents. SUBJECT AND METHODS: This was a cross sectional study. A sample of 116 students was selected at random for this study from one public and one private senior high school in Surakarta, Indonesia. The dependent variable was negative body image. The independent variables included body mass index (BMI), religiosity, and exposure to “slim ideal” mass media. Body image was measured using Body Shape Questionnaire. Religi-osity was measured using Duke University Religion Index Questionnaire. The data was analyzed using linear regression model. RESULTS: BMI (b=3.22; 95%CI 2.08 to 4.36; p<0.001) and exposure to “slim ideal” mass media (b=16.35; 95%CI 1.92 to 30.78; p=0.027) had positive association with negative body image, and it was statistically signi-ficant. Religiosity (b=-3.10; 95%CI -11.86 to 5.64; p=0.483) had negative association but statistically not significant with negative body image. CONCLUSION: BMI and exposure to “slim ideal” mass media have positive association with negative body image in adolescents. Keywords: body image, adolescents, Body Mass Index, religion index, media

The Association between Polycystic Ovarium Syndrome and Body Mass Index, Acne Vulgaris, Hirsutism, Irregular Menstrual Cycle

Background: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age that may cause infertility. PCOS often receives little attention due to unrecognized risk factors. PCOS is often diagnosed when patients who want to have children are treated at the infertility clinic. The purpose of this study was to analyze the association between body mass index, acne vulgaris, hirsutism, menstrual cycle, and the risk of PCOS. Subjects and Method: This was an analytic observational study with case control design conducted in RSUD Dr.Moewardi, Surakarta, Central Java. A sample of 60 patients was selected for this study by fixed disease sampling, consisting of 30 PCOS cases and 30 controls. The independent variables were: body mass index, acne vulgaris, hirsutism, and menstrual cycle. The dependent variable was the incidence of polycystic ovary syndrome. Data were collected by interview. Body mass index is measured by the weight scale and microtoise. The data were analyzed by a multiple logistic regression. Results: High body mass index (OR= 1.94; 95% CI= 1.01 to 3.74; p= 0.047), hirsutism (OR= 8.36; 95% CI= 2.07 to 33.75; p= 0.003), acne vulgaris (OR= 2.451; 95% CI= 0.718 to 8.367; p= 0.152), and irregular menstrual cycle (OR= 1.13; 95% CI= 0.66 to 1.92; p= 0.661) increased the risk of PCOS. Conclusion: High body mass index, hirsutism, acne vulgaris, and irregular menstrual cycle increase the risk of PCOS. Keywords: polycystic ovarium syndrome, body mass index, acne, hirsutism, menstrual cycl