Malta is known for its beautiful architecture and breathtaking coastline – and it turns out its people are happy with the way they look, too.
For a study has found Malta is the country with the highest levels of body confidence in the world.
In a global survey, researchers from Anglia Ruskin University quizzed more than 56,000 people from 65 nations about their body image.
Malta, Taiwan, Bangladesh and Kazakhstan topped the list as the most body confident countries.
At the other end of the table, Australia, India and the UK were revealed as the countries with the lowest levels of people who are confident about their figures.
In a new global study, researchers from Anglia Ruskin University surveyed over 56,000 people from 65 nations about their body image. Malta, Taiwan, Bangladesh, and Kazakhstan topped the list as the most body confident countries
Previous research has found a link between high levels of body appreciation and a range of positive wellbeing traits, including improved self-esteem and healthy eating habits.
However, until now, little research has looked at how body appreciation varies from country to country. To answer this question, the team enlisted 56,968 participants from 65 nations who were asked to rate how far they agreed with ten statements, including ‘I respect my body’, and ‘I appreciate the different and unique characteristics of my body.’
10 most body confident countries
MaltaTaiwanBangladeshKazakhstanSouth KoreaPhilippinesEgyptIraqPolandSouth Africa
10 least body confident countries
AustraliaIndiaUKIrelandUkraineGermanyUSAChinaFranceBrazil
Overall, the results revealed that having a more positive body image was strongly associated with better psychological wellbeing and life satisfaction.
Professor Viren Swami, lead author of the study, said: ‘This is one of the largest studies on body image ever carried out, brought about by a collaborative research effort involving over 250 scientists across the world.
‘Our finding that greater body appreciation is associated with better psychological wellbeing highlights the importance of developing ways to promote more positive body image globally.’
Breaking the results down by country, the researchers found that Malta topped the list as the most body confident, followed by Taiwan, Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, South Korea and the Philippines.
People in Australia had the lowest body confidence, followed by India, the UK, Ireland, Ukraine, Germany and the USA (stock image)
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At the other end of the scale, people in Australia had the lowest body confidence, followed by India, the UK, Ireland, Ukraine, Germany and the US.
Finally the study found that, across nations, body appreciation was higher in people living in rural areas, as well as those who were single.
‘People who live in urban areas may feel stronger pressure to conform to body ideals promoted by Western society, and it is also notable that people from countries considered culturally different to the United States appeared to have broadly greater body appreciation,’ Professor Swami said.
‘People in rural areas may also benefit from being in nature, which past research has also shown to be linked with positive body image.’
The researchers hope the findings will encourage authorities around the world to promote more positive body image.
‘We are confident that the present work will help scholars better understand the meaning and manifestation of body appreciation across nations, and will be of value to practitioners and policy-makers seeking to promote more positive body image outcomes in diverse national, cultural, and linguistic groups,’ the team wrote in the study, published in Body Image.
