Percepção da imagem corporal associada ao estado nutricional de crianças e adolescentes

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the association between the parents’ perception of their children’s body image and the self-perceived body image of children and adolescents in relation to their nutritional status. Methods: Cross-sectional study conducted between March and April 2016 with 122 children and adolescents aged 6 to 19 years and their guardians. With the students, a questionnaire with data addressing gender, weight, height and school location (rural or urban) was applied, in addition to the Stunkard’s Figure Rating Scale (1983) for evaluation of the self-perceived body image. The nutritional status was calculated by means of the Body Mass Index and classified according to the World Health Organization (WHO) 2007 cut-off points. With the parents or guardians, the Stunkard’s Figure Rating Scale (1983) and a closed question addressing the concern about their children’s nutritional status were used, besides the identification of gender, age and degree of kinship (parents, grandparents, uncles, brother or other family member). Data was analyzed using Fisher's test and p≤0.05. Results: It was found that the parent’s perception of their children’s body image was significantly associated with their children’s self-perceived body image (p≤0.001), and the students’ self-perceived body image was also associated with their nutritional status (p≤0.001). Conclusion: There was a positive association between the parent’s perception of their children’s body image and between the self-perceived body image of children and adolescents and their nutritional status.