Body dissatisfaction, eating disorders and a media literacy intervention among Tanzanian females

Recent cross-cultural research indicates increasing prevalence of eating disorders among groups previously though to be "protected" from this Western-bound syndrome, including women in Africa. Evidence suggests that traditional aesthetics, valuing a larger ideal body image, may be changing. Media is suggested to play a role in the development of body image dissatisfaction in Western and non-Western samples. The present study investigated body image and eating disorders among a Tanzanian sample of female students, particularly with regard to the impact of media and various eating disorder risk factors, and examined the efficacy of a media literacy intervention program in reducing internalization of a slender body image ideal and body dissatisfaction.; Two hundred and ten female students in Arusha, Tanzania participated, providing self-report questionnaire data at baseline and post-delivery of the GO GIRLS! media literacy program. Correlates and predictors (including BMI, modeling of unhealthy eating, media exposure, internalization of a slender ideal, self-esteem and media literacy) for body dissatisfaction and eating disorders were examined among the overall sample. Classrooms were randomly assigned to control (n=93) or experimental (n=117) conditions, and comparisons were made to assess the impact of the program.; A majority of Tanzanian female students (60%) experienced body dissatisfaction; and a substantial minority (28%) reported significant eating disorder symptoms. A significant proportion identified dissatisfaction based on desiring a larger (traditional) body figure, while others desired a slender ideal. Eating disorder symptoms and body dissatisfaction were consistently associated with internalization of a slender ideal and modeling of disordered eating in this sample. The relationship between media and body/eating concerns was complex, suggesting that occasional media consumption conferred vulnerability, while frequent media consumption led to increased media literacy and reduced body image concerns. Group comparisons showed that the media literacy intervention was effective in decreasing body dissatisfaction and internalization of a slender ideal, as well as reducing disordered eating and increasing media literacy.; Though eating disorders are more common than expected in Tanzania, the relationships between media and body dissatisfaction among female students vary from those observed in other cultural contexts. Findings support the use of media literacy programs in this region.