Body shape perception and eating disorder risk among the university female students in Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study

Female university students are generally more vulnerable to body image dissatisfaction and eating disorders than their male counterparts. This study aimed to investigate the association between body image perception and the risk of eating disorders among female university students in Bangladesh. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 362 female students from September 2024 to March 2025 using a convenience sampling technique. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire, consisting of socio-demographic information, the Eating Attitude Test -26 (EAT-26) to assess eating disorder symptoms, and the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ) to evaluate body image perception. Results showed that 17.4% of participants scored above 20 on the EAT-26, indicating a risk of eating disorder, while 51.11% exhibited mild to marked concern about their body shape. Significant differences were found between eating disorders and variables such as study level, field of study, monthly family income, and body shape perception. Logistic regression analysis revealed that body shape concern was had higher odds of being at risk of eating disorders: mild concern (aOR = 13.8, 95% CI 5.87–34.9, p < 0.001), moderate concern (aOR = 7.90, 95% CI 2.99–21.9 and marked concern (aOR = 3.23, 95% CI 0.98–10.2, p = 0.048). These findings highlight the notable influence of body image dissatisfaction on eating disorder risk, emphasizing the need for targeted mental health and body image interventions for female university students in Bangladesh.