Dissatisfaction with body image in adolescents: prevalence and association with nutritional status

Abstract

Objective: Investigate the association between dissatisfaction with body image and nutritional status in adolescents. Methods: The study was carried on with 212 female adolescents, enrolled in second year of high school from Marechal C. Rondon, Paraná (Brazil). Body weight and height were measured to determine body mass index. Nutritional status was classified according to Cole et al. (2000)19, and categorized as normal weight, overweight or obese. Dissatisfaction with body image was verified using the Body Shape Questionnaire. The association between dissatisfaction with body image and nutritional status was verified by Poisson regression analysis with robust adjustment (P <0.05). Results: The prevalence of body dissatisfaction was 42%. After adjusting by age, we observed that overweight and obesity girls have, respectively, a probability of 1.61 and 1.46 times greater dissatisfaction than those with normal weight. Conclusion: Dissatisfaction with body image, regardless of age, was associated with nutritional status.