Body Image from the Military Service Member's Perspective: The Effects of Weight Concerns and Social Pressures, and Health-Related Attitudes

Abstract

<p>Military service members are required to meet service-specific weight and body fat standards, and both active duty and reserve military personnel are required to maintain weight and fitness standards. This requirement to be fit and healthy is often found as an additional stressor and as an influence on body image. Also, anxiety and changes in eating and exercise prior to the bi-annual fitness tests have been documented. Thus, it is important to understand the military service member's weight and body image perceptions in order to adequately plan intervention programs for the service members. The purpose of this study is to examine the antecedents of body image of military service members to better understand social-psychological needs to improve body image. Specifically, this study investigates the effects of weight concerns, perceived social pressures, as well as exercise and eating attitudes on body image.</p>