PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND BODY DISSATISFACTION IN FEMALE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

The study was conducted on a sample of female students of the University of Zagreb aged 18-20. It aimed at examining students' body satisfaction in relation to their physical activity and eating habits. This is the first research among Zagreb female students on their self-image as related to their comparison with top models resulting from a growing sociocultural pressure among young women. The results revealed that most of the students were satisfied with their appearance, whereas some of them claimed having "unhealthy" habits, such as insufficient physical activity or increased food intake during a single meal, which affect their physical appearance, and result in a certain level of dissatisfaction. In addition, women experience some negative emotions when comparing themselves with top models presented through the media.