Body image of adolescents in rural cities

• Published in: Ciência & saude coletiva Vol. 19; no. 6; pp. 1791 - 1801
• Main Authors: Neves Miranda, Valter Paulo, Maria Aparecida Conti, Ronaldo Rocha Bastos, Laus, Maria Fernanda, Sebastião deSousa Almeida, Caputo Ferreira, Maria Elisa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Portuguese
• Published: Rio de Janeiro Associação Brasileira de Saúde Coletiva 01.06.2014
• Subjects: Body image; Child development; Nutritional status; Overweight; Questionnaires; Self image; Teenagers
• ISSN: 1413-8123; 1678-4561
• DOI: 10.1590/1413-81232014196.14082013

The scope of this article is to evaluate the body image of adolescents from rural cities and its relationship with nutritional status, sex and the adolescent phase. Adolescents of both sexes participated in the cross-sectional study. Body image was evaluated through the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ) and the Figure Rating Scale (FRS) for adolescents. Weight and height were measured for the evaluation of body mass index (BMI). Stages of adolescence were classified by age. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were conducted. Four hundred and forty-five adolescents (190 boys and 255 girls), with a mean age of 16.44 comprised the sample. Higher risk of body dissatisfaction was found among overweight and obese participants (BSQ: OR = 3.359 p < 0.001; ESA: OR = 1.572 p = 0.387) and the female sex (BSQ: OR = 3.694 p < 0.001; ESA: OR = 0.922, p = 0.840). Participants from the intermediary and final stages of adolescence revealed a lesser risk of dissatisfaction compared to those from the initial phase. Body dissatisfaction was related to overweight and obesity, to the female sex and to the initial period of adolescence. Intervention research is required to control the factors that influence excessive adolescent body dissatisfaction.