Abstract
Objective:
To evaluate the association of body image with physical activity level, body
composition, and sedentary behavior (SB) of female adolescents.
Methods:
Exploratory cross-sectional study conducted with 120 female adolescents aged
between 14-19 years, from the city of Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Southeast
Brazil. Body image was evaluated with a Body Silhouette Scale (BSS) and a
Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ). Weight, height, and waist circumference
values were analyzed, as well as the waist-to-height ratio and body fat
percentage. The physical activity level (PAL) was assessed by 24-hour
Physical Activity Recall and SB by screen time, that is, time spent in front
of a TV, playing video game, on the computer and using tablets, and,
separately, the cell phone time.
Results:
Mean age was 16.5±1.5 years, and most adolescents were eutrophic (77.6%),
sedentary/low PAL (84.2%), with high screen time (85.2%) and cell phone time
(58.7%). Body dissatisfaction was stated in 40.6% of BSQ and 45.8% of BSS
evaluations. Body distortion was identified in 52.9% of participants. All
body composition measures, along with cell phone time and PAL, were
associated with body dissatisfaction, the more active adolescents presenting
higher levels of dissatisfaction.
Conclusions:
This study concluded that female adolescents with higher cell phone time
also present higher body dissatisfaction, as well as the most physically
active ones. All body composition measurements were associated with body
dissatisfaction, mainly body mass index, waist circumference, and
waist-to-height ratio.
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