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  • Original Article
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Maternal and pediatric nutrition

Body image dissatisfaction and anthropometric indicators in male children and adolescents

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 69, pages 1140–1144 (2015)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/Objectives:

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between body image dissatisfaction and body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage (BF%) and to identify which of these anthropometric indicators are more strongly associated, and finally to estimate the prevalence of overweight and high body adiposity in male children and adolescents, according to maturational stages.

Subjects/Methods:

Overall, 1499 students aged from 7 to 17 years from Cascavel, PR, Brazil, were evaluated. Body image was self-rated through the body silhouette scale. Body weight, height and triceps and subscapular skinfolds were measured and BMI and BF% were calculated. Sexual maturity was self-assessed by the development of pubic hair. Data analysis used the Fisher exact test, the χ2-test and multinomial logistic regression.

Results:

Body image dissatisfaction because of excess weight was associated with BMI and BF%, whereas in prepubertal students, this association did not remain in the adjusted analysis. In pubescent students, both BMI (odds ratio (OR)=5.25, confidence interval (CI) 95%=3.06–9.01) and BF% (OR=2.42, CI 95%=1.60–3.66), and in post-pubescent students for BMI (OR=3.77, CI 95%=1.33–10.70), the association remained. Body image dissatisfaction because of thinness was associated only with BF% in pubescent (OR=0.50, CI 95%= 0.33–0.75) and post-pubescent students (OR=0.38, CI 95%= 0.16–0.94).

Conclusions:

Body image dissatisfaction was associated with BMI and BF%, especially in pubescent and post-pubescent students.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State University of Santa Catarina (UDESC), Center for Health Sciences and Sports, Graduate Program in Human Movement Science, Florianópolis, Brazil

    E P Ferrari

  2. Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), Sports Center, Graduate Program in Physical Education, Florianópolis, Brazil

    G Minatto, J Berria, S F dos S Silva, Y L Fidelix & E L Petroski

  3. CAPES scholarship, Florianópolis, Brazil

    G Minatto, J Berria & Y L Fidelix

  4. “Assis Gurgacz” College (FAG), Cascavel, Brazil

    R R Ribeiro & K D Santos

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  1. E P Ferrari
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Correspondence to E P Ferrari.

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Ferrari, E., Minatto, G., Berria, J. et al. Body image dissatisfaction and anthropometric indicators in male children and adolescents. Eur J Clin Nutr 69, 1140–1144 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2014.252

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