Abstract
Body image is an important parameter of body satisfaction and needs to be evaluated with instruments developed and validated for a specific population. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a scale to assess body image in Brazilian women. A scale consisting of 11 silhouettes was prepared. Content validation was performed by seven experts from different health areas. To assess repeatability (two consecutive assessments) and reproducibility (reassessment after one week), an intentional sample stratified into four groups according to the characterization of Brazilian women regarding nutritional status was selected. Participants were 125 women aged 18-55 years and body mass index (BMI) between 18.5 and 38.6 kg/m2. The Kappa coefficient (k) was used to assess repeatability and reproducibility, considering the isolated responses of the current body, ideal body and the difference between them, assumed as satisfactory when k≥0.6. For all trials, α=0.05. During the content validation phase, the instrument developed was changed following the evaluators’ suggestions and it was considered very suitable by six of seven evaluators. The Kappa coefficient was good in isolated issues and in the difference between them in both repeatability and reproducibility. The Body Image Scale was considered a valid content, with good repeatability and reproducibility. Considering the instrument as low cost and of rapid implementation/evaluation, it may be used to evaluate the body image of Brazilian women with BMI between 18.5 and 38.6 kg/m2, in different contexts.
Highlights
More and more exposed bodies generate an incessant search for a massively popular pattern in the media as ideal: young, handsome and muscular for men and thin for women, without which it does not seem possible to find happiness and success[1,2]
With the answers obtained in the first question, modifications to the Body Image Scale were performed according to the evaluators’ suggestions
In view of the favorable result of the majority of evaluators for the questions (1) clarity, ease of understanding and applicability of the instrument’s scoring template model; (2) objectivity; and (3) individual evaluation of images, it was considered that the Body Image Scale (Figure 1) presented content validity, being able to move to the second phase of the study
Summary
More and more exposed bodies generate an incessant search for a massively popular pattern in the media as ideal: young, handsome and muscular for men and thin for women, without which it does not seem possible to find happiness and success[1,2]. Its evaluation can be made by scales of silhouettes that provide a body design in which the person should identify his / her current body and how he / she would like it to be, and the difference of these responses has been understood as a measure of body dissatisfaction[10] This type of instrument takes advantage of being compared to the others, because in addition to being more practical, due to its rapid application and interpretation of results, it has the capacity to collect data from large groups[11], which makes it more suitable for population research. The choice of the appropriate instrument for each population is a delicate issue, since a scale must take into account ethnological characteristics without attributing singularities to its silhouettes[12]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
