Body Image In Children Research Articles

Benefits of early development of eye–hand coordination: Evidence from the LOOK longitudinal study

We investigated longitudinal and cross-sectional relationships between eye-hand coordination (EHC) and cardiorespiratory fitness (multistage run), physical activity (pedometers), percent body fat (%BF, dual energy x-ray absorptiometry), body image, and organized sport participation (questionnaires) in 406 boys and 384 girls at 8 and 10 years of age. EHC was measured by a throw and wall-rebound catch test involving 40 attempts of increasing difficulty. Median EHC improved during two years from 18 to 32 (boys) and 9 to 24 (girls), and gender differences and improvements were both significant (P < 0.001). Cross-sectional analyses showed that boys and girls with better EHC were fitter (P < 0.001), and a longitudinal relationship showed that girls who improved their EHC over the two years became fitter (P < 0.001). There was also evidence that children with better EHC possessed a more positive body image (P = 0.05 for combined sex data), but there was no evidence of any relationships between EHC and %BF or PA (both P > 0.3). Finally, even at age 8 years, boys and girls participating in organized sport possessed better EHC than non-participants. These data provide evidence for the premise that early acquisition of this single motor skill promotes the development of a child's fitness, body image, and participation in sport.

The influence of primary caregivers on body size and self-body image of preschool children in Taiwan.

The purpose of this study was to investigate preschool children's body size and image, and analyze the impact of the primary caregiver on a child's body size and awareness in Taiwan. In a cross-sectional survey, 699 preschool children and their primary caregivers participated in this study. Our study used an anonymous self-administered questionnaire, which was divided into parts A and part B. Part A was a questionnaire for the primary caregivers, including their demographic and anthropometric information, and expectation for children's body size. Part B was a two part questionnaire for children, including the children's expectation on their own body size and their consciousness in terms of body size evaluation by parents and teachers. Data was analyzed by chi-square analysis. In our study, the majority of boys and girls have a normal body size (69.0% and 64.6%, respectively). There was a significant positive correlation (p<0.05) between children and primary caregivers' body size, and a negative correlation (p<0.05) between children body size and caregivers' education level. Furthermore, we found that caregiver's satisfaction and evaluation of the children's body size had significantly affected the children's satisfaction towards their body size. Influences by the primary caregiver is an important factor that affects a preschool child's body size and body image in Taiwan. Body size evaluation by caregivers will influence the child's satisfaction level.

Weight status and perception of body image in children: the effect of maternal immigrant status

BackgroundRecent studies have shown that body image perception is an important factor in weight control and may be influenced by culture and ethnicity. The aim of the present study was to assess the relationship between immigrant status of the mother and weight status and body image perception of the child.MethodsIn total, 2706 schoolchildren (1405 boys and 1301 girls) aged 8–9 years and their mothers participated in a cross-sectional survey in Emilia-Romagna region (northern Italy). Weight and height of the children were measured and Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated. Actual and ideal body image perception by the children and by the mothers with respect to their children was evaluated according to Collins’ body image silhouettes.ResultsThe BMI values were significantly lower in children of immigrants than in children of Italian mothers (F:17.27 vs 17.99 kg/m2; M:17.77 vs 18.13 kg/m2). The prevalence of overweight/obesity was lower, and the prevalence of underweight higher, in children of immigrant mothers than in those of Italian mothers (overweight- F:21.3 vs 29.1%; M. 28.3 vs 31.4%; underweight- F:5.16 vs 3.84%; M:6.63 vs 2.82%). The children's body image perception was consistent with the differing pattern of nutritional status. In the comparison between actual and ideal figures, the Feel-Ideal Difference Index (FID) scores resulted different between the subsample with foreign-born mother in comparison to the native one (significantly lower in daughters of immigrants) (FID- F: 0.31 vs 0.57; M: 0.35 vs 0.32). There were significant differences in the choice of the ideal figure of the child between immigrant mothers and Italian mothers (FID- F: -0.05 vs 0.19; M: -0.35 vs −0.03): the ideal figure values were higher in the immigrant mothers of male children and lower in the Italian mothers of female children.ConclusionOur results suggest that cultural and behavioral factors linked to ethnicity play an important role in the nutritional status of children and in the perceived and ideal body image.

1587 The Feasibility of Tissue Expanders in Reconstruction of Giant Congenital Melanocytic Nevi in Children

BackgroundChildren with Giant Congenital Melanocytic Nevi (GCMN) carry a great challenge to the pediatric and reconstructive surgeons to cover the widely exposed area after its excision. A variety of treatment...

Effects of physical activity, fitness and fatness on children's body image: The Australian LOOK longitudinal study

BackgroundAmong children relationships between body image and body fat are well documented but less attention has been given to relationships with physical activity and fitness. This study examined longitudinal relationships of children's body image with physical activity, fitness and percent body fat whilst accounting for a number of potential confounding variables. MethodParticipants were 821 elementary-school children across 29 schools from the Lifestyle of our Kids (LOOK) study. Measures of body image, body fat (DXA), physical activity (pedometers) and fitness (shuttle run) were collected in grades two, four and six. ResultsThe current study found longitudinal evidence that increases in %BF among primary school-aged girls is associated with greater body dissatisfaction and cross-sectional evidence of the same relationship among boys. Among both boys and girls, lower levels of cardiovascular fitness were associated with greater body dissatisfaction cross-sectionally, even after adjusting for percent body fat. Weaker evidence was found for the relationship between physical activity and body dissatisfaction and these relationships were no longer significant after adjusting for percent body fat. At the between-school level we found significant and positive relationships between body dissatisfaction and physical activity among girls and with percent body fat for boys, indicating that school culture may significantly affect body dissatisfaction. ConclusionIncreased adiposity is a strong predictor of body dissatisfaction, particularly among girls. Higher levels of cardiovascular fitness may act as a protective buffer to body image concerns, regardless of a child's body composition. Future interventions may benefit from targeting change in school culture.

Body image of children and adolescents with cancer: A metasynthesis on qualitative research findings

Children and adolescents with cancer are confronted with many challenges. This review considered studies that used qualitative methods to examine the body image experience of children and adolescents with cancer. A systematic literature search of English and Chinese databases was undertaken, covering the period between 1960 and October 2010. Qualitative research findings were extracted and pooled using the Joanna Briggs Institute Qualitative Assessment and Review Instrument. Eight papers met the inclusion criteria. The derived four metasyntheses included being distanced from the body, loss of self-identity, self-protective strategies and support, and getting rid of the shackles of the body. In conclusion, children and adolescents with cancer also experience various problems associated with changes in their body image. Repeated courses of treatment lead to loss of a normal, orderly life, and might even result in changes in interpersonal interactions. In response to body image change, individuals with cancer develop self-protective, coping strategies. Children and adolescents who experience life-threatening cancer come to face body image change positively, and might hold a confident attitude toward their future.

Propiedades psicométricas de una Escala Breve de Evaluación de la Insatisfacción Corporal infantil = Psychometric properties of a Brief Scale for the Assessment of Children Body Dissatisfaction

Introduction. The assessment of body image and body dissatisfaction has become a main aim in psychological research because of its strong links with the study of the etiology and definition of eating disorders. However, there are few children assessment instruments adapted to the Spanish population. The aim of this paper is to present the results of a pilot study on the design and evaluation of a new instrument for Spanish children called Escala Breve de Insatisfacción Corporal Infantil (EBICI) [The Children Body Dissatisfaction Brief Scale]. Method. The EBICI, a Likert scale, was designed and administered to a sample of 62 children from two Primary Schools whose mean age was 11.53 (SD = .73). Likewise, They provided their Self-reported Body Mass Index (BMI) and filled in the Children's Body Image Scale (CBIS) used to study the validity of the EBICI. Results. According to the discriminant analysis no item was considered to be removed. The reliability analysis yielded an adequate Cronbach's alpha (.738). The concurrent validity analysis yielded statistically significant correlations with the Self-reported BMI (.250, p &lt; .05) and the CBIS (.497, p &lt; .01). Conclusions. The EBCIN scale could be a suitable instrument for a rapid assessment of body dissatisfaction in Spanish children at the expense of further studies using larger samples from a wider range of locations.

Perceções parentais sobre estado nutricional, imagem corporal e saúde em crianças com idade escolar

Objective: to evaluate parental perceptions of nutritional status, body image, and health in children attending the 1st cycle of basic education. Methods:...

Multicultural Body Image in Children’s and Young Adult Publishing

Multicultural Body Image in Children’s and Young Adult Publishing

Can Teachers Identify Children Who Need More Help to be Physically Active?

Background and aims: Identifying primary school children who are not sufficiently active will permit timely intervention by parents, schools and healthcare professionals. This study aims to investigate the accuracy of teachers' ratings of children's body size and barriers to participation in physical activities. Methods: Teachers rated body shape in 1021 children aged 9-11 using the Child Body Image Scale (consisting of representations of boys and girls at different weight centiles). They also indicated if the child lacked confidence during P.E. lessons or, in contrast, could be considered ‘sporty’. Children rated their willingness to engage in physical activity using the Predilection sub-scale of the Children's Self-Perceptions of Adequacy in and Predilection toward Physical Activity scale (CSAPPA). Results: Teachers identified 161 children (16%) in whom they felt low confidence was a barrier to exercise and these children had significantly lower scores on the predilection subscale of the CSAPPA (p< 0.001). Children rated as sporty by teachers, in contrast, had significantly higher scores on the CSAPPA (p< 0.001). Seventy-two children were rated above the 75th centile, 29 boys and 43 girls. Consent was obtained to measure actual weight and height in 176 children (74 boys; 102 girls). A strong agreement was found between teacher ratings of centiles and child BMI in both boys (ICC=0.85; p< 0.001) and girls (ICC=0.89; p< 0.001). Conclusions: Teacher identification of children who are overweight and have low confidence is both feasible and valid enabling targeted interventions to be tailored to the school setting.

Perceived parenting style, body dissatisfaction and self-esteem: Associations with overweight and obesity in young children

Aim: To determine whether perceived parenting style (demandingness and responsiveness) moderates the relationship between child overweight/obesity and psychological outcomes of self-esteem and body image in children. Methods: Participants were children aged 7—11 years (N = 158) and their primary caregivers, recruited from primary schools across South Australia. Children completed measures of parenting style, self-esteem, and body dissatisfaction, and had their weight and height objectively measured. Parents reported on their education. Regression analyses were conducted to investigate associations between parenting style dimensions of demandingness and responsiveness and child outcomes of weight status, self-esteem and body dissatisfaction, controlling for covariates of child gender, child age and parental education. Results: Perceived parenting did not differ significantly according to weight status of the child. Self-esteem was significantly lower and body dissatisfaction was significantly higher in children who were overweight or obese, compared to their non-overweight counterparts. Perceived parental responsiveness was positively associated with child self-esteem, but parenting was not associated with child body dissatisfaction. Child weight and parenting styles were not found to interact in their association with child self-esteem or body dissatisfaction. Conclusions: Overweight and obesity was associated with higher body dissatisfaction and lower self-esteem in a young, non-treatment-seeking sample. Child-perceived responsive parenting, v i POSTER Abstracts

Protective effect of physical activity on dissatisfaction with body image in children – A cross-sectional study

Objective To evaluate, in pre-adolescents and adolescents, the frequency of body image dissatisfaction and distortion and to assess the association between these factors and physical activity and body mass index (BMI). Design Cross-sectional study. Methods 234 children (10–17 years) from a Porto high school were evaluated. Dissatisfaction with body image (FID) was assessed by Collins’ child figure drawings for pre-adolescents and adolescents. FID was calculated as the discrepancy between the “ideal figure” and the “perceived figure”. Body image distortion (BID) was calculated as the discrepancy between the “perceived figure” and the “real figure”. The Baecke questionnaire was applied to determine the habitual physical activity index (HPAI) of each participant. Results Girls were more dissatisfied than boys with their body image (68.1% vs 52.9%). A high proportion of students of both genders and age groups revealed BID (71.8%) with 51.3% underestimating their body image and 20.5% overestimating it. A negative association was found between the FID and BID (girls: r = −.259, p = .006; boys: r = −.414, p < .001). High levels of physical activity were associated with a protective effect on FID, OR = 0.38, 95% CI [0.16, 0.87] for 3rd vs 1st quartile of HPAI; OR = 0.29, 95% CI [0.12, 0.86], for 4th vs 1st quartile of HPAI, both adjusted for BMI and gender, but HPAI was not associated with BID. Conclusion FID and BID are highly frequent and inversely associated. BID increases directly with BMI percentiles in both genders while physical activity has a protective effect on dissatisfaction of body image.

Perceptions of self in 3–5-year-old children: A preliminary investigation into the early emergence of body dissatisfaction

The main objective of this study was to investigate normal weight and overweight preschool children's ability to understand conceptualizations of body image and their association with parental perceptions of their child's body. One hundred and forty-four children aged 3–5 years were interviewed (68 girls and 76 boys) regarding their body image and their satisfaction with such. Parents completed a questionnaire that probed socio-demographic characteristics as well as their perceptions of their child's body image. Results showed that (1) children's misperceptions corresponded to those held by their parents. Specifically, overweight children and their parents underestimated the child's body size. (2) Gender differences in body dissatisfaction were consistently observed and were similar to those seen in adolescents and adults. It was determined that children's inaccuracies were not a result of developmental limits, that is, the participants’ inability to understand the concepts measured.

Recognition and management of overweight and obese children: A questionnaire survey of general practitioners and parents in England

To (i) compare the views of general practitioners (GPs) and parents about the causes, consequences and management of childhood overweight/obesity; and (ii) explore the extent to which they can identify overweight/obesity in children. A questionnaire was mailed to all GPs in one Primary Care Trust and all parents in one primary school in southern England, 2008. Information was gathered on socio-demographic background, views about causes, consequences and management of childhood overweight/obesity; judgements about the weight status of 14 images of children (seven boys, seven girls) in the Children's Body Image Scale (CBIS). Comparisons were made between GP and parents' responses using unpaired bivariate tests. The response rate was 33%. Differences exist between the views of GPs and parents about childhood weight management: 86.4% of parents felt GPs should be involved, compared to 73.3% of GPs (P < 0.001). Parents thought GPs should be more proactive than the GPs stated they would be. GPs were significantly more likely than parents to see a role for school nurses and dieticians. One third of respondents thought GPs lacked expertise in child weight management. Most GPs and parents correctly identified obese children from the images, but inaccuracies occurred at category margins. Childhood overweight/obesity is a serious public health concern, and primary care has a role to play in tackling it. GPs in England need more training in childhood overweight/obesity management. Their role needs to be clarified in the context of multiagency approaches.

Negative body image and weight loss behaviour in Dutch school children

To assess the prevalence of negative body image and weight loss behaviour among children in primary and secondary school. Data were collected during the routine health assessment, in 10,767 children in the 6th grade (9-10 years) of primary school and the 2nd grade (13-14 years) of secondary school in Utrecht, a province in The Netherlands. Weight loss behaviour and body image were assessed during an interview and weight and height were measured. A total of 7.8% of the boys and 13.9% of the girls of primary school had a negative body image (P < 0.001); 2.9% of the boys and 6.9% girls found themselves too fat, while having a normal body weight (P < 0.001). Weight-loss behaviour is found in 3.7% of the boys and 7.0% of the girls (P < 0.001). At secondary school, 15.8% of the boys and 32.5% of the girls found themselves too fat (P < 0.001). A total of 8.6% of the boys and 27.5% of the girls found themselves too fat, while having a normal body weight (P < 0.001); 4.7% of the boys and 12.9% of the girls with a normal weight showed weight loss behaviour (P < 0.001). A negative body image and weight loss behaviour were already present in 9- to 10-year-old children and among children with a normal weight in The Netherlands. Among secondary school children (13-14 year), the prevalence of a negative body image and of weight loss behaviour was high, especially for girls. Diagnostic tools are needed for youth health-care workers to detect unnecessary weight loss behaviour.

Body image, body dissatisfaction and weight status in south asian children: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundChildhood obesity is a continuing problem in the UK and South Asian children represent a group that are particularly vulnerable to its health consequences. The relationship between body dissatisfaction and obesity is well documented in older children and adults, but is less clear in young children, particularly South Asians. A better understanding of this relationship in young South Asian children will inform the design and delivery of obesity intervention programmes. The aim of this study is to describe body image size perception and dissatisfaction, and their relationship to weight status in primary school aged UK South Asian children.MethodsObjective measures of height and weight were undertaken on 574 predominantly South Asian children aged 5-7 (296 boys and 278 girls). BMI z-scores, and weight status (underweight, healthy weight, overweight or obese) were calculated based on the UK 1990 BMI reference charts. Figure rating scales were used to assess perceived body image size (asking children to identify their perceived body size) and dissatisfaction (difference between perceived current and ideal body size). The relationship between these and weight status were examined using multivariate analyses.ResultsPerceived body image size was positively associated with weight status (partial regression coefficient for overweight/obese vs. non-overweight/obese was 0.63 (95% CI 0.26-0.99) and for BMI z-score was 0.21 (95% CI 0.10-0.31), adjusted for sex, age and ethnicity). Body dissatisfaction was also associated with weight status, with overweight and obese children more likely to select thinner ideal body size than healthy weight children (adjusted partial regression coefficient for overweight/obese vs. non-overweight/obese was 1.47 (95% CI 0.99-1.96) and for BMI z-score was 0.54 (95% CI 0.40-0.67)).ConclusionsAwareness of body image size and increasing body dissatisfaction with higher weight status is established at a young age in this population. This needs to be considered when designing interventions to reduce obesity in young children, in terms of both benefits and harms.

The experience of body image of children and adolescents with cancer: A meta-synthesis

The experience of body image of children and adolescents with cancer: A meta-synthesis

The experience of body image of children and adolescents with cancer: A meta-synthesis.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to describe the body image experience of children and adolescents with cancer. This review considered studies that utilised qualitative methods to examine the experience of children and adolescents with cancer. The phenomena of interest were experiences of children and adolescents with cancer living in acute care, home, and community settings of any cultural context. The research was limited to studies published in Chinese or English only. The search strategy sought to find both published and unpublished studies. CINAHL, MEDLINE, Mednar, Scius, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, electronic theses and dissertations system and Chinese electronic periodical services were used to search the articles.Methodological quality: Each paper was assessed independently by two reviewers for methodological quality. The Joanna Briggs Institute Qualitative Assessment and Review Instrument was used to appraise the methodological quality of the articles. Any disagreements that arose between the reviewers were resolved through discussion with a third reviewer. Qualitative research findings were extracted and pooled using the Joanna Briggs Institute Qualitative Assessment and Review Instrument. Eight papers were included in the review. Four meta-syntheses emerged from the analysis: (1) Being kept away from body: Clinicians should be aware that children and adolescents with cancer feel that they are kept away from normal body, (2) Loss of self-identity: Clinicians should be aware that children and adolescents with cancer feel that they have lost their self-identity, (3) Self-protective strategies and support: Clinicians should understand the protective strategies that children and adolescents with cancer develop and utilise with support from family and friends, and (4) Getting rid of shackles of the body: There should be a strategy to facilitate the development of positive attitudes toward the illness and body image change in children and adolescents with cancer. Children and adolescents with cancer also experience various problems associated with body image change. Repeated courses of treatment lead to loss of a normal orderly life, and may even result in changes in interpersonal interactions. In response to body image change, self-protective coping strategies are developed. Children and adolescents who experience life-threatening cancer come to face body image change positively and may hold a confident attitude towards future life.The implications for practice include: (1) Clinicians should be aware that children and adolescents with cancer feel that they are kept away from normal body; (2) Clinicians should be aware that children and adolescents with cancer feel that they have lost their self-identity; (3) Clinicians should be understand the protective strategies that children and adolescents with cancer develop and utilise with support from family and friends; (4) There should be a strategy to facilitate the development of positive attitudes toward the illness and body image change in children and adolescents with cancer.The research tools concerning social support and guidance can be further developed in the future to increase the confidence and capacity of children and adolescents with cancer to face body image change and reduce psychological stress.

The Influence of a Behavioral Weight Management Program on Disordered Eating Attitudes and Behaviors in Children with Overweight

Background Behavioral interventions targeting children with overweight have been successful in facilitating weight loss; however, there is concern that these programs produce disordered eating attitudes among youth. Objective The purpose of this research was to determine whether youth with overweight receiving one of two behavioral interventions were more likely to report an increase in disordered eating attitudes over time compared to a waitlist control and to determine psychosocial predictors of eating-disordered attitudes at 6-month follow-up. Design Participants were randomized to one of two behavioral lifestyle interventions or a waitlist control. Data were collected at baseline, post-treatment, and 6-month follow-up. Participants/setting Participants were 68 youths with overweight, aged 8 to 13 years, and their parent(s) who lived in rural north central Florida. The project ran from January 2006 to January 2008. Intervention Each treatment condition consisted of 12 group sessions over 16 weeks. Main outcome measures Parents completed a demographic form and the Child Feeding Questionnaire. Children completed the Children's Eating Attitudes Test, Schwartz Peer Victimization Scale, and Children's Body Image Scale. Statistical analyses performed Mixed 2×2 analyses of variance were used to examine the effect of treatment on eating attitudes. Hierarchical linear regression was used to assess whether baseline levels of psychosocial variables predicted disordered eating attitudes at follow-up, controlling for baseline eating attitudes and treatment condition. Results Youth who participated in the behavioral interventions did not report significant increases in disordered eating attitudes over time compared to the waitlist control. Across all conditions, higher levels of body dissatisfaction, peer victimization, parent restrictive feeding practices, and concern for child weight at baseline predicted higher levels of disordered eating attitudes at follow-up. Conclusions These findings do not provide evidence that behavioral interventions lead to an increase in unhealthy eating attitudes and behaviors. Future research should examine the effects of incorporating eating disorder prevention in pediatric weight management programs.

Parents’ Healthy Weight Perceptions and Preferences Regarding Obesity Counseling in Preschoolers: Pediatricians Matter

To compare parental report of child body image with perceived healthy weight body image in preschoolers and describe weight-counseling preferences. Parents seeking well-child care were interviewed and asked to select images resembling: (a) their own child's current weight, (b) a healthy weight preschooler, and (c) friend and family report of a healthy weight preschooler. Those indicating that their overweight or obese child resembled a healthy weight image were considered to misclassify child weight. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of misclassification and card-sorting exercises explored weight-counseling preferences. Of the 150 preschoolers in our sample, 32.7% (n = 49) were overweight or obese with misclassification occurring in 71.4% of parents (n = 35). Absence of pediatrician comment on child weight strongly predicted misclassification (odds ratio, 12.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.74-87.2). Pediatricians were highly valued weight advisors. Weight-focused advice from pediatricians matters to parents and may promote parental identification of early childhood weight risks.