Ideation of Body Image and its Relevance to Health

Globalization and urbanization have greatly affected one's life style, perception, rate of acceptance as well as eating habits. In the present era human beings have many concerns about their development, about size and shape of body, skin condition, attractiveness and approval by their friends. Body image is a multifaceted psychological construct that includes subjective attitudinal and perceptual experiences about one‟s body, particularly its appearance. The impact of globalization on body image and health are simultaneously positive and negative varying according to factors such as geographical location, gender, age, ethnic origin, education level, and socioeconomic status. In childhood, the influential beings are caretakers and with increasing age social factors and peers have greater influence. Media plays profound role on body image. There are evidences to support that body image concerns and dissatisfaction are serious problem and it is linked to nutritional status. Besides several primary prevention strategies psychotherapeutic, exercise and health based educational interventions are needed to overcome negative body image. There is an urgent need to move from traditional research to translational research and finally to transformative research transformative research in context of body image.

Magnitude spectrum and predictors of depression in adolescent girls of rural Varanasi

Background: Depression is a common but serious problems among adolescent. It has profound adverse effect on their physical as well as mental health. Now days it is one of the common and ignorant psychiatric problems in adolescents. Objectives: 1. To assess magnitude and spectrum of depression in rural adolescent girls. 2. To pinpoint predictors of depression in adolescent girls. Method: A community based cross-sectional design was adopted for this study. Four hundred adolescent girls were selected from rural Varanasi by adopting appropriate sampling technique. Socio demographic, personal and diet related information were obtained on a predesigned and pretested schedule. CES depression scale was applied to assess the level of depression. The data thus obtained was analyzed using SPSSv21.0.In order to pin point correlates logistic regression analysis was done. Results: On applying psychological rating scale in all 75.2% subjects were at risk of depression. Mild to moderate and severe depression prevailed in 21.3% and 54.0% subjects respectively. Higher AOR for depression prevailed in menstruating girls (AOR 3.82; 1.41- 10.34), higher education of study subjects (AOR 2.89; 1.09-7.70), irregular breakfast habits (AOR 7.09; 2.59-19.41) and average (AOR 8.02; 2.64-24.27) as well as poor (AOR 18.24; 45.88-71.86) life skills. Conclusion: Three out of four rural adolescent girls were at risk of depression. Menstrual status, subjects literacy, breakfast habit and category of life skill were significant predictors of depression status.

Fast Food Consumption Pattern among Female Research Scholars of a Central University

Background: Fast food culture is a vigorously uprising trend among the youngster’s engaged in higher education as well. Objectives: To assess fast food consumption among female research scholars of a central university and to identify influencing factors for the prevailing situation. Material and Method: For this cross sectional study 282 female research scholars of Banaras Hindu University were selected through multistage sampling. They were interviewed with pre-designed and pretested proforma about socio– demographic characteristics and consumption of fast foods. Results: Out of 282 subjects, 69.5% subjects consumed fast food daily whereas in case of 12.4% subjects this was 3-4 days per week. Fast food consumption was significantly influenced by area of residence, type of family, religion, caste, family size, source of income and socio-economic status. Consumption of fast food on daily basis was more in subjects from, urban area (77.8%), nuclear family (71.1%), family size 3 (81.9%), source of income other than service and business (73.0%) and SES I (74.9%). As per logistic model higher AORs were for urban area (4.77; 95% CI : 2.28-10.0); OBC caste (3.02; 95%, CI 1.45-6.27), and when total family member were 3 (3.51; 95%; CI 1.34-9.22). Conclusion: Fast food consumption was considerably high by female research scholars and area of residence, caste and family size were its significant predictors.