Work

Prevalence of appearance and weight dissatisfaction among female university students in France: Associations with BMI and body image avoidance

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Objective Body dissatisfaction has been widely studied among young women, but prevalence data in Europe remain scarce and no national prevalence estimates are available in France. Thus, this study aimed to estimate the prevalence of body dissatisfaction and examine body image avoidance among female university students in France. Methods A total of 2092 French female students completed an online survey assessing appearance dissatisfaction, weight dissatisfaction, body image avoidance, body mass index (BMI) and sociodemographic variables in early 2026. Cut-off points were defined to estimate prevalence, and correlational analyses were conducted. Results In our sample, up to 48.4% of participants were dissatisfied with their appearance, 45.3% with their weight, and 35.3% with both. Body image avoidance was strongly associated with both appearance and weight dissatisfaction. Conclusions These findings highlight the need for easily disseminable public health interventions targeting body dissatisfaction and body image avoidance among university students, with the aim of reducing the risk of eating disorder onset, maintenance, and relapse.

Source: Preventive Medicine Reports

DOI: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2026.103680

Authors: Axelle Nougal, Stéphane Rusinek, Thierry Kosinski

Institutions: Université de Lille, Psychologie : Interactions, Temps, Emotions, Cognition

Language: English

Topic: Eating Disorders and Behaviors

Subfield: Clinical Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,610