Abstract
ABSTRACTObjective: 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.
Highlights
Adolescence is a period characterized by both physical and psychological transition, as well as behavioral changes, which can affect general health and well‐being in adult‐ hood.[1]
The sedentary lifestyle may result in increased food intake, leading to excessive caloric intake and body fat accumulation,[2] one of the major causes of problems related to body image, especially among female adolescents.[3]
The school was located within the facilities of Universidade Federal de Viçosa and the board of directors agreed with the research project
Summary
Adolescence is a period characterized by both physical and psychological transition, as well as behavioral changes, which can affect general health and well‐being in adult‐ hood.[1]. The attitudi‐ nal dimension of body image assesses cognitive, emotional, and behavioral aspects in addition to dissatisfaction with own body.[4,5] Currently, a thin body is valued by the media, social environments, family, and friends.[6] Overweight female adolescents can be considered part of a risk group for the development of body image disorders, since they internal‐ ize a strong desire to get skinnier. The aggravation of such disorders, associated with other factors, can trigger eating disorders (Table 1).[5,7]
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