The body image of young Japanese women may be associated with menoxenia

Abstract

【Objective】The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of body BMI, body image and diet behavior on menoxenia in young Japanese women. 【Methods】We recruited 15-39 year-old women for this study. Body height, weight, body image, diet behaviors, menstrual condition and depressive state were included as items in an online questionnaire. We calculated the percentage of subjects with different BMI classifications in each body image group, the expression rate of menoxenia for each BMI classification and each body image group, how much body image affected diet behavior, and how much diet behavior affected the expression of menoxenia. 【Result】3,274 women participated in the study. Median age and BMI of the subjects were 26 years and 20.1 kg/m², respectively. Many women with a BMI of 17-21.9 had a good body image. Menoxenia rarely happened in subjects with a BMI of 18.5-21.9 kg/m² and these subjects also had a good body image. Body image affected diet behavior. Restriction of the staple diet was an independent variable for menoxenia. Conclusion : Our survey suggested having a BMI of 18.5-21.9 kg/m² and a good body image gave low risk for menoxenia, and restriction of the staple diet might cause menoxenia in them.