INDICATORS OF ADIPOSITY ASSOCIATED WITH LOW BODY ESTEEM IN ADOLESCENTS.

Ana Lúcia Viégas Rêgo,Aldair José De Oliveira,Claudia Souza Lopes,Rosangela Alves Pereira

doi:10.1590/1984-0462/2020/38/2018383

Abstract

ABSTRACTObjective: To investigate the association between weight status and anthropometric indicators of adiposity with body esteem.Methods: Cross-sectional study including 305 adolescents from a public school in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Data were collected by a self-administered questionnaire and anthropometric measurements. The Body-Esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults was used to evaluate total body esteem and the “appearance”, “weight”, and “attribution” domains. Body mass index (weight/stature2) was applied to assess weight status and waist circumference, the central body adiposity. The association between indicators of adiposity and body esteem was assessed using Student’s t-test or Mann-Whitney’s test and linear regression models, stratified by sex and age group.Results: Overweight/obesity was observed in 46% of younger adolescents (10 to 13 year-old girls, 10 to 14 year-old boys), 38% of older boys (15 to 18 year old), and 16% of older girls (14 to 18 year old). For both boys and girls in the younger age group, body mass index and waist circumference (as continuous variables) were inversely associated with total body esteem and weight domain. Overweight/obesity was associated with the appearance body esteem domain only among younger male adolescents; no association was found between either the body mass index or waist circumference and the attribution domain.Conclusions: Indicators of adiposity were associated with low body esteem. These findings underscore the fact that considering adolescents’ feelings concerning their body and appearance is important to promote a healthy control of weight.

Highlights

During adolescence, countless biopsychosocial changes contribute to an increased vulnerability to social and nutritional risks.[1,2] One of these transformations concerns body esteem, which can be understood as an individual’s perception or feelings with regard to his/her body and appearance
This study aimed to investigate the association between weight status and anthropometric indicators of adiposity and body esteem in Brazilian adolescents, considering sex and age group strata
High adiposity was associated with low scores for the weight domain in both age groups among male adolescents

Summary

Introduction

Countless biopsychosocial changes contribute to an increased vulnerability to social and nutritional risks.[1,2] One of these transformations concerns body esteem, which can be understood as an individual’s perception or feelings with regard to his/her body and appearance. It is an essential component in the formation of personality and affectivity.[3,4]. Body esteem in adolescents has received academic attention, both to characterize its association with sex, age, and weight condition[8] and to clarify its mediating role in more complex relationships, such as between body dissatisfaction and depression.[9]

Methods

Results

Conclusion