Prevalence and Psychosocial Predictors of Body Image Dissatisfaction Among Undergraduate Students in Western Gujarat, India: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Body image dissatisfaction (BID) is an emerging public health concern among college students due to its association with depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. Sociocultural pressures during the transition to adulthood increase vulnerability. Evidence from Western Gujarat remains limited. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of BID and identify its sociodemographic and psychological predictors among undergraduate students in Western Gujarat. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 297 undergraduate students (18–24 years) from a medical college in Western Gujarat. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, including MBSRQ-AS, BDI-II, HAM-A, and RSES. BMI was calculated using standard anthropometric measurements. Data were analyzed using SPSS v25 with chi-square tests, independent t-tests, and binary logistic regression. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: The prevalence of BID was 58.2%. Females reported significantly higher dissatisfaction than males (66.1% vs. 48.5%, p < 0.001). Higher BID was observed among overweight/obese students (75.4%) and underweight students (66.7%). Multivariate analysis identified female gender (AOR = 1.95, 95% CI: 1.13-3.37), overweight/obesity (AOR = 3.59, 95% CI: 1.85-6.97), higher depression scores (AOR = 1.05 per unit), and lower self-esteem (AOR = 0.89 per unit) as independent predictors (Nagelkerke R² = 0.398). Conclusion: BID is highly prevalent among undergraduate students in Western Gujarat, particularly among females and those with higher BMI, depression, and low self-esteem. Targeted campus-based interventions promoting body positivity, self-esteem, and mental well-being are warranted.