Body image perception and satisfaction in Italian athletes, gym practitioners and inactive individuals

Background: Body image refers to a person's perception of her/his own body. Currently, the media and most of the social settings place significance on having a thin body. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between body image perception and satisfaction and some lifestyle-related factors such as weight status, sedentary habits and engagement in physical activity among sport athletes, gym practitioners and inactive individuals. Methods: An observational study with a cross-sectional design was carried out. An electronic questionnaire was used to assess participants' characteristics and engagement in physical activity. Perception and satisfaction of body image were assessed using Stunkard's figures. Results: One hundred-and-five (33.5%) of the participants were inactive, 107 were gym practitioners and 101 practiced different sport disciplines. The inactive group had a higher percentage of participants desiring to be thinner and a lower percentage desiring to be bigger, while the athlete group had a higher percentage expressing satisfaction with their current body image. Body satisfaction was found to be related with training volume. Conclusions: This study highlights the significant associations between body image perception, satisfaction, and lifestyle factors such as physical activity levels and sedentary habits. Athletes reported greater body satisfaction compared to inactive individuals, emphasizing the potential role of regular physical activity in fostering a positive body image. These findings underscore the importance of promoting active lifestyles to improve both physical and psychological well-being.