Alvin George C. Cobar1,2,3, Jerrwin C. Aguinaldo4, Jarrel Keane M. Agcaoili1, Eirenne Aleeseeyah A. Lumasang2
1School of Humanities, Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City, Philippines
2Department of Leadership and Strategy, Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City, Philippines
3Department of Sports Science, University of the Philippines Diliman, Philippines
4Department of Physical Education, De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines
Perception of Physique Aesthetic, Fitness and Anthropometric Scores of Filipino Body Samples
Sport Mont 2025, 23(2), Ahead of Print | DOI: 10.26773/smj.250604
Abstract
Society equates beauty and fitness and this study aims to examine how perceived beauty and fitness correlate with actual fitness scores, addressing expectations in the fitness industry, from a Philippine-specific perspective. The study recruited 2,077 Filipino respondents (851 males, 1,043 females, 183 LGBTQ+), aged 19.41±3.13 years. An online questionnaire with 14 body images (7 males, 7 females) scoring models’ aesthetic ratings (AR) and reporting their perceived fitness (PF) on a 10-point Borg scale. Models' anthropometric data, including percent body fat (%BF), body mass index (BMI), handgrip scores (HG), shoulder-to-waist ratio (SWR) and waist-hip ratio (WHR), were collected as reference in association assessments. The study found significant associations (p<0.05) between HG with SWR (r2=0.917) and HG with %BF (r2=0.894), and AR of males. Moderate negative relationship on AR and WHR (Cramer’s V of 0.22) of women were found, with an inverted U trend on their BMI and %BF measurements. AR of models with optimal WHR (0.7) for women and SWR (1.6) for men were seen cross-sectionally decreasing and increasing respectively as respondents increase in age. Further research was recommended particularly on the roles of social factors, time and gender identity on AR with the different explored variables.
Keywords
body aesthetics, perceived fitness, health factors
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