The role of cultural values and religion on views of body size and eating practices among adolescents from Fiji, Tonga and Australia

<b>Objectives </b>This study investigated cultural values related to body image and eating practices in Western and non-Western societies.<br /><br /><b>Design and Methods</b> In total, 628 Fijian, 463 Indo-Fijian, 598 Tongan, and 534 Australian adolescents completed measures of cultural values and religious influences in relation to the ideal body and eating practices.<br /><br /><b>Results </b>Fijian and Tongan adolescents were more likely to value a large body. Religious influences were most strongly associated with eating practices for Fijians, Indo-Fijians, and Tongans.<br /><br /><b>Conclusions </b>The findings support the role of religion in transmitting cultural values regarding eating practices in Pacific Island communities.<br /><br /><b>Statement of contribution</b><br /><b>What is already known on this subject?</b> Previous research has demonstrated that sociocultural factors shape body image and eating behaviours. Most of this research has been conducted in Western countries.<br /><br /><b>What does this study add?</b> The current study identifies the role of cultural values and religious influences on body image and eating behaviours in a number of different cultural groups. This is the first study to use the same methodology to explore these relationships across Western and Pacific Island communities.<br />