A study involving 1,000 young adults revealed that nearly half of those who were underweight or obese reported moderate to severe body image concerns, including feelings of self-consciousness and low confidence, according to researchers from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi.
The findings, published in the Journal of Education and Health Promotion, showed that 37.5% of participants felt judged by others, and approximately 24.5% frequently experienced weight-related anxiety.
The research also found that obesity was significantly linked to heightened feelings of self-consciousness, while underweight individuals were more likely to suffer from a lack of confidence.