BMI and sociodemographic correlates of body image perception and attitudes in school-aged children

Parents' perceptions and dissatisfaction with child silhouette: associated factors among 7-year-old children of the Generation XXI birth cohort

PURPOSE

We compared parent's perceived child's silhouette, and investigated predictors of their dissatisfaction.

METHODS

Participants were 4930 mother-child dyads enrolled at a Portuguese birth cohort. Parents' perceptions of child's current and desired silhouette was assessed and dissatisfaction with child's silhouette was defined as the discrepancy between these ratings (current-desired body). Multinomial logistic regressions, adjusted for potential confounders, were performed.

RESULTS

Mothers were more dissatisfied with child's silhouette, compared to fathers, in all weight categories. Mothers and fathers of girls were more dissatisfied, preferring thinner silhouettes (OR = 2.77, 95% CI 2.19; 3.51 and OR = 2.08, 95% CI 1.18; 3.66, respectively), compared to parents of boys. Lower birth weight increased maternal desire for a heavier child silhouette. Younger (< 20 years) and less educated (≤ 9 years of schooling) mothers were more dissatisfied with their child's silhouette, preferring heavier children (OR = 1.65, 95% CI 1.10; 2.48 and OR = 1.73, 95% CI 1.42; 2.09, respectively). Parents' own dissatisfaction was also associated with child's silhouette dissatisfaction.

CONCLUSION

Sociodemographic characteristics and parents' dissatisfaction with their own silhouette influenced their dissatisfaction with child's silhouette and should be considered when developing obesity interventions.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, case-control analytic study.

Reliability and validity of body weight and body image perception in children and adolescents from the South American Youth/Child Cardiovascular and Environmental (SAYCARE) Study

OBJECTIVE

To assess the reliability and validity of body weight (BW) and body image (BI) perception reported by parents (in children) and by adolescents in a South American population.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study. BW perception was evaluated by the question, 'Do you think you/your child are/is: severely wasted, wasted, normal weight, overweight, obese?' BI perception was evaluated using the Gardner scale. To evaluate reliability, BW and BI perceptions were reported twice, two weeks apart. To evaluate validity, the BW and BI perceptions were compared with WHO BMI Z-scores. Kappa and Kendall's tau-c coefficients were obtained.

SETTING

Public and private schools and high schools from six countries of South America (Argentina, Peru, Colombia, Uruguay, Chile, Brazil).ParticipantsChildren aged 3-10 years (n 635) and adolescents aged 11-17 years (n 400).

RESULTS

Reliability of BW perception was fair in children's parents (κ=0·337) and substantial in adolescents (κ=0·709). Validity of BW perception was slight in children's parents (κ=0·176) and fair in adolescents (κ=0·268). When evaluating BI, most children were perceived by parents as having lower weight. Reliability of BI perception was slight in children's parents (κ=0·124) and moderate in adolescents (κ=0·599). Validity of BI perception was poor in children's parents (κ=-0·018) and slight in adolescents (κ=0·023).

CONCLUSIONS

Reliability of BW and BI perceptions was higher in adolescents than in children's parents. Validity of BW perception was good among the parents of the children and adolescents with underweight and normal weight.

BODY IMAGE IN CHILDHOOD: AN INTEGRATIVE LITERATURE REVIEW

OBJECTIVE

To analyse the scientific literature regarding the evaluation of body image in children through an integrative literature review.

DATA SOURCE

An intersection of the keywords "body image" AND "child" was conducted in Scopus, Medline and Virtual Health Library (BVS - Biblioteca Virtual de Saúde) databases. The electronic search was based on studies published from January 2013 to January 2016, in order to verify the most current investigations on the subject. Exclusion criteria were: articles in duplicate; no available summaries; not empirical; not assessing any component of body image; the sample did not consider the target age of this research (0 to 12 years old) and/or considered clinical populations; besides articles not fully available.

DATA SYNTHESIS

7,681 references were identified, and, after the exclusion criteria were implemented, 33 studies were analysed. Results showed that the perceptual and attitudinal dimensions focusing on body dissatisfaction were explored, mainly evaluated by silhouette scales. Intervention programs were developed internationally to prevent negative body image in children.

CONCLUSIONS

The studies included in this review evaluated specific aspects of body image in children, especially body perception and body dissatisfaction. The creation of specific tools for children to evaluate body image is recommended to promote the psychosocial well being of individuals throughout human development.

Sport practice, physical structure, and body image among university students

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to estimate body image perception in undergraduate students, and to investigate its associations with weight status, abdominal obesity, muscularity, gender and sport.

METHODS

The sample consisted of 231 Italian students (174 males and 57 females); anthropometric measurements, taken by trained technicians, were: height, weight, arm-circumference, waist and hip circumferences. BMI, WHR and Δ arm-circumference were calculated. Body image was assessed using body silhouette charts. Information about sport (currently practiced sport, starting age, and weekly hours of sport) was acquired with questionnaires.

RESULTS

Females perceived themselves as slightly overweight, while males identified themselves as normal weight. Females had a tendency to desire to be thinner in all weight status categories; in males, normal weight subjects had a tendency to desire to be larger, while overweight wished to be thinner. Sport practice was significantly higher in males. Individuals who were overweight and did less sport were significantly more likely to have higher body dissatisfaction.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study highlights a positive relationship between sport practice, corpulence and body image perception.