Current conceptualisation of body image dissatisfaction: have we got it wrong?

BACKGROUND: This study addresses limitations of previous research by examining the prevalence of body image dissatisfaction within two developmental periods: childhood and adolescence. METHODS: A sample of 448 boys and 508 girls completed self-report measures of global body image dissatisfaction. Weight and height of all participants were also determined. RESULTS: Our results indicated that body image dissatisfaction differs significantly depending upon sex and body mass. Importantly, the results revealed a multi-modal distribution in the data, particularly for boys. That is, for females there was a significant increase in body dissatisfaction across bodyweight, reflecting a predominant desire to be thinner. In contrast, for boys, there was a differential pattern; with those who were overweight wanting to be thinner, but those who were underweight wanting to be larger. Moreover, whilst for both sexes, body image dissatisfaction was found to be evident in childhood as well as adolescence, during the former developmental period, it appeared to be less pronounced. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that, contrary to previous propositions, body image dissatisfaction is of concern for males as well as females, although the distribution of such is strikingly different. The outcomes suggest that it is time to reframe our conceptualisation of this construct. Specifically, the identified non-linear distribution of means indicates that inferential analysis of body image dissatisfaction data needs to be conducted independently for each sex, as well as each body mass grouping.     

Weight gain since infancy and prepubertal body dissatisfaction

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether body dissatisfaction at prepuberty is associated with preceding changes in relative weight since infancy. DESIGN: A longitudinal cohort study. Follow-up of weight and height from age 7 months to 8 years; evaluation of body dissatisfaction at age 8 years.Setting and PARTICIPANTS: The subjects were 205 girls and 230 boys participating in a prospective randomized atherosclerosis prevention trial in Finland. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A pictorial instrument was used in measuring estimated current and desired body sizes. A difference between the 2 indicated body dissatisfaction. RESULTS: Children, particularly girls, who wished to be thinner at age 8 years had, on average, a more rapid increase in relative weight between ages 3 and 8 years compared with other children. Slopes of the average trends of change in weight differed significantly between the children wishing to be thinner, those who were satisfied with their size, and those who wished to look heavier (P = .002 in girls; P = .02 in boys). CONCLUSION: Body dissatisfaction at prepuberty may reflect changes in weight during the preceding several years.     

Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between TV viewing and girls' body mass index, overweight status, and percentage of body fat

OBJECTIVE: To assess cross-sectional and longitudinal relations between television (TV) viewing and girls' body mass index (BMI), weight status, and percentage of body fat. STUDY DESIGN: Participants included 169 girls who were measured at ages 7, 9, and 11 years. Height and weight were measured and used to calculate girls' BMI and to classify their weight status. Girls' percentage of body fat was assessed with the use of dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Mothers reported the hours per day that girls watched TV on a typical day. RESULTS: No significant cross-sectional associations were identified. Results from longitudinal analyses showed that in comparison to girls who never exceeded the American Academy of Pediatrics TV viewing recommendations (ie, watched 相似文献   

Links between parents' and girls' television viewing behaviors: a longitudinal examination

OBJECTIVE: This longitudinal study examines links between parents' television (TV)-related parenting practices and their daughter's daily TV viewing hours. STUDY DESIGN: Participants included 173 non-Hispanic white girls and their parents who were examined when girls were age 9 and 11 years. Girls' daily TV viewing hours, mothers' and fathers' daily TV viewing hours, parents' use of TV as a recreational activity, family TV co-viewing, and parents' restriction of girls' access to TV were assessed. RESULTS: Approximately 40% of girls exceeded the TV-viewing recommendations (ie, < or =2 hours/day). Girls watched significantly more TV when their parents were high-volume TV viewers, relied heavily on TV as a recreational activity, watched TV with them, and failed to limit their access to TV. A parenting risk score was calculated by collapsing information across all parenting variables. In comparison with girls exposed to 1 or fewer parenting risk factors at age 9, girls exposed to 2 or more parenting risk factors were 5 to 10 times more likely to exceed TV viewing recommendations at age 9 and 11. CONCLUSIONS: Efforts to reduce TV viewing among children should encourage parents to limit their own TV viewing, reduce family TV viewing time, and limit their children's access to TV.     

Parental TV viewing, parental self-efficacy, media equipment and TV viewing among preschool children

This study examined if parental TV viewing, parental self-efficacy or access to media equipment were associated with TV viewing among UK preschool-aged children. Data were derived from a cross-sectional survey of 252 parents of 3–5-year-old children. Parents reported child and parent TV viewing and the number of TVs, DVDs, computers, games consoles, hand-held games consoles, music players and laptop computers in the home. Parents also completed scales which assessed their self-efficacy to limit the screen viewing (SV) and promote the physical activity (PA) and their own PA self-efficacy. Analysis indicated that around two thirds of the children spent two or more hours per day watching TV while 75 % of parents watched ≥2 h of TV per day. Logistic regression models showed that children who had a parent who watched ≥2 h of TV per day were over five times more likely to also watch ≥2 h of TV per day. Each unit increase in parental self-efficacy to limit SV was associated with a 77 % reduction in the likelihood that the child watched ≥2 h of TV per day. Each additional piece of media equipment in the home was associated with a 28 % increase in the likelihood that parents watched ≥2 h of TV per day. Conclusion: Family-based interventions focusing on changing access to home media equipment and building parental self-efficacy to reduce child TV viewing could form part of efforts to reduce TV viewing among preschool children.     

Body satisfaction in 8-year-old children after long-term dietary counseling in a prospective randomized atherosclerosis prevention trial

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether dietary counseling designed for primary prevention of atherosclerosis and given repeatedly since infancy had an effect on prepubertal children's body satisfaction. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. PARTICIPANTS: At the age of 7 months, 1062 infants were randomized to an intervention group (n = 540) or a control group (n = 522). At the age of 8 years, body satisfaction of 217 children in the intervention group and 218 in the control group was evaluated.Intervention Since the children were 8 months old, families in the intervention group had regularly received individualized health education and dietary advice aimed at decreasing the children's intake of saturated fat and cholesterol. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A pictorial instrument was used in measuring estimated current and desired body sizes; a difference between the 2 indicated body dissatisfaction. Weight and height were measured. RESULTS: When adjusted for relative weight, there were no differences in the mean values of estimated current size, desired size, or body dissatisfaction between the girls in the intervention and control groups (P =.62, P =.72, and P =.39, respectively), or between the boys in the intervention and control groups (P =.21, P =.64, and P =.53, respectively). The proportions of children who were satisfied with their size, who wished to be thinner, or who wished to look heavier did not differ between the intervention and control groups in either girls (P =.65) or boys (P =.85). CONCLUSION: Long-term, individualized dietary counseling since infancy with the focus on dietary fat did not enhance body dissatisfaction or desire to be thinner in 8-year-old children.     

Parents' and boys' perceptions of boys' body size for average and high BMI boys

A study on 49 preadolescent boys and their parents was performed to determine if differences existed in boys' body esteem and body size perceptions and to determine how accurately parents perceive their sons' body size. The boys were grouped by their body mass index (BMI) into average and high BMI groups. The boys completed the Body Esteem Scale; the boys and the parents rated the boys' body size perceptions. No differences were found in the boys' body esteem. The boys in the high BMI group perceived themselves as bigger than the boys in the average BMI group, and the parents of the boys with a high BMI perceived their sons as bigger. The boys in the high BMI group rated their current figure as heavier than their ideal figure. The results supported that the boys and the parents were aware of the boys' current body size. However, the parents of the boys with high BMI were more accepting of a larger ideal body figure.     

Demographic differences in and correlates of perceived body image discrepancy among urban adolescent girls: a cross-sectional study

Background

Understanding factors related to girls’ body image discrepancy, which is the difference between self-perceived current or actual and ideal body size, is important for addressing body-related issues and preventing adverse sequelae. Two aims were to: 1) examine demographic differences in body image discrepancy; and 2) determine the association of body image discrepancy with weight status, percent body fat, physical activity, sedentary behavior, and cardiovascular (CV) fitness among young adolescent girls.

Methods

The cross-sectional study included a secondary analysis of baseline data from a group randomized controlled trial including 1519 5th–8th grade girls in 24 U.S. schools. Girls completed physical activity and sedentary behavior surveys. To indicate perceived current/actual and ideal body image, girls selected from nine body figures the one that represented how they look now and another showing how they want to look. Girls wore accelerometers measuring physical activity. Height, weight, and percent body fat were assessed. The Progressive Aerobic CV Endurance Run was used to estimate CV fitness. Independent t-test, one- and two-way ANOVA, correlational analyses, and hierarchical linear regressions were performed.

Results

The majority (67.5%; n?=?1023) chose a smaller ideal than current/actual figure. White girls had higher body image discrepancy than Black girls (p?=?.035). Body image discrepancy increased with increasing weight status (F_3,1506?=?171.32, p?<?.001). Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and vigorous physical activity were negatively correlated with body image discrepancy (r?=??.10, p?<?.001; r?=??.14, p?<?.001, respectively), but correlations were not significant after adjusting for race and body mass index (BMI), respectively. Body image discrepancy was moderately correlated with CV fitness (r?=??.55, p?<?.001). After adjusting for demographics, percent body fat, but not CV fitness or MVPA, influenced body image discrepancy. Girls with higher percent body fat had higher body image discrepancy (p?<?.001).

Conclusion

This study provided important information to guide interventions for promoting a positive body image among girls.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT01503333, registration date: January 4, 2012.

     

Body fat reference curves for healthy Turkish children and adolescents

Childhood obesity is a major worldwide health problem. In addition to body mass index (BMI), body fat percentiles may be used to predict future cardiovascular and metabolic health risks. The aim of this study is to define new age- and gender-specific body fat centiles for Turkish children and adolescents. A total of 4,076 (2,276 girls, 1,800 boys) children and adolescents aged 6–18 years were recruited for this study. Total body fat was measured by a bioelectrical impedance noninvasive method. Body fat percentiles were produced by the LMS method. The body fat percentile curves of boys appear to rise from age 6 to 12 years and then slope downwards to age 15 years and then flatten off. The body fat % percentiles of girls increased until 14 years of age through 75th to 97th percentiles and then slope downwards, but through the third to 50th percentiles, they showed a downward slope after 14 years old. Conclusions: Since BMI may not always reflect body fat content, direct assessment of adiposity by a practical method would be significantly useful for clinical decisions. Therefore, this study provides normative data for body fat percentage in healthy Turkish children and adolescents. To this goal we used a practical and clinically applicable method. These references can be useful for evaluation of overweight and obesity.     

?Ich bin zu dick!“

Background

Our study aimed at investigating to what extent the subjective assessment of weight deviates from the objectively measured body mass index (BMI).

Methods

With the help of bivariate analysis and logistic regression we analyzed the magnitude and pattern of a possible discrepancy between subjective and objective weight in male and female children and adolescents aged 11?C17 in Germany in order to identify influencing factors. This investigation was based on the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS). Special attention was given to children and adolescents who overestimated their weight.

Results

For 51% of the boys and girls examined in the age group 11?C17 perception of their weight corresponded with their BMI. However, 47.7% of girls and 31.1% of boys overestimated their weight. Apart from gender other factors influencing weight perception included type of school, social status, and parents?? weight (p<05).

Conclusion

Our results show that a large number of the children and adolescents examined overestimate their weight. Behavioral preventive measures should take this into account.     

Einfluss von Ernährung und genetischen Faktoren auf Wachstum und BMI bis zum Alter von 5 Jahren

Given the increasing numbers of overweight children, the EuroGrowth Study is aimed at investigating predictors for an increased Body Mass Index (BMI). The multi-centre, longitudinal, observational study therefore examines the influence of early nutrition—until 4–6 months of age—on growth and weight. A total of 2,245 healthy children, born full term (1,154 boys and 1,091 girls), were included from 22 study centres in 12 European countries. Data on weight, size, and the educational standard of the parents as well as demographic and socio-economic factors and the babies birth data were included. Anthropometric measurements and interviews on nutrition were made until the fifth birthday. The most important predictor of genetically determined growth potential was the average height of the parents. Predictors of weight gain until 60 months of age were duration of breast feeding, time at which solid food was first taken, sex, educational level the mother, and the height of the parents. The BMI at 1 month was the strongest and the BMI of the parents the second strongest predictor of a BMI over the 90th percentile at an age of between 12 and 60 months. For the successful prevention of overweight in children, however, additional significant predictors need to be identified.     

The relationship between selected socioeconomic factors and basic anthropometric parameters of school-aged children and adolescents in Poland

The aim of the present paper was to examine the associations between anthropometric parameters, overweight, obesity, and socioeconomic status (SES) of children and adolescents in Poland. Data were collected in the “Elaboration of reference blood pressure ranges for children and adolescents in Poland” OLAF-PL0080 (OLAF) study, a nationally representative survey on growth and blood pressure references for children and adolescents aged 7–18 years. Body height, weight, and waist circumference (WC) were measured, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Anthropometric parameters were standardized for age and gender and expressed as z-scores. Statistical analyses were conducted on 10,950 children and adolescents whose parents provided socioeconomic questionnaires. The associations between anthropometric parameters, overweight (including obesity), and SES were analyzed using multiple regression and multiple logistic regression. The height was positively associated with higher levels of maternal education and, in the case of girls, also with paternal education. Higher level of income per capita, but not the highest, was associated with higher weight, BMI, and WC and, in the case of boys, also tall stature. The height, weight, BMI, and waist were significantly inversely associated with number of children in the family. Lower number of children in the family and higher level of income, but not the highest, increased odds of overweight and obesity. In the case of girls, the odds of obesity decreased with paternal higher level of education. Conclusion: The social position associated with parents’ education, better environment, and SES correlate with body height and weight of a child. However, it is associated with higher risk of overweight and abdominal obesity.     

Prevalence and Spectrum of Sexual Abuse Among Adolescents in Kerala,South India

Objective

To study the prevalence and spectrum of sexual abuse among adolescents in Kerala, South India.

Methods

A self- report survey was conducted among adolescents in the 15–19 y age group, studying in the plus one and plus two classes in selected schools.

Results

Of the 1614 respondents (688 boys and 926 girls), 36 % of boys and 35 % of girls had experienced sexual abuse at some point during their lifetime. Most instances were sexual advances while using public transport. Feelings of insecurity and isolation at home, of being disliked by parents and of being depressed were significantly more in adolescents who had experienced sexual abuse, compared to those who had not.

Conclusions

Sexual abuse is widely prevalent and both boys and girls are equally susceptible. There is a need to evolve strategies to protect children from sexual abuse and the programmes should address both boys and girls.     

Correlations between high level sport-climbing and the development of adolescents

Over the last years concerns have been raised about the health effects particularly on young climbers due to the observation of short stature with low body weight and body fat in sports climbers. The aim of this study was to investigate anthropometric and hormonal data for climbers of the German Junior national team. 16 climbers were compared with 14-age matched nonclimbers with respect to several anthropometric variables, leptin level, and climbing characteristics. Height, weight and body mass index (BMI) standard deviation scores (SDS) for boys were not significantly different from the controls, whereas girls had significantly lower SDS-values for weight and BMI. In comparison with the control group boys and girls had a lower skinfold thickness. The leptin values were lower than the calculated leptin levels but only reached significance for the girls. The young athletes of the GJNT were neither of short stature nor thin when compared with a physically active control group. The low body fat in boys and girls was within expected limits. The lower leptin levels might be attributed to a decrease in total body fat.     

Undernutrition and Obesity Associated with High Blood Pressure in Children and Adolescents from João Pessoa,Paraíba,Brazil

The objective of this study was to describe the prevalence, correlation, and association of undernutrition and obesity with high blood pressure (HBP). One thousand five hundred seventy (1570) students (808 boys and 762 girls), aged 7–12 years, from João Pessoa, Paraíba (Northeastern Brazil) participated. Measurements of stature, body weight, skinfolds [triceps (TS) and subscapular (SS)], upper-arm circumference (UAC), upper-arm fat area (UAFE), total upper-arm area (TUAA), and BP were taken. Four criteria were adopted to classify undernutrition and obesity. HBP was defined as systolic BP (SBP) and/or diastolic BP (DBP) values ≥90th percentile. Analysis of covariance, Spearman’s correlation, logistic regression, and multiple linear regression were used. In the logistic regression model, undernutrition was not associated with HBP; however, the chances of HBP increased when two or more obesity indicators were present [boys: odds ratio (OR) = 2.08, 95% confidence interval (CI 95%) = 1.26–3.41; girls: OR = 2.26, CI 95% = 1.44–3.55]. In the multiple regression, the BMI, SS, and UAFE explained 15% of the variance of high SBP (r ² = 0.153) in boys, whereas the body mass index (BMI) and TUAA accounted for 16% of the variance of the SBP (r ² = 0.166) in girls. The DBP was influenced by the SS in boys (r ² = 0.022) and the TUAA (r ²  = 0.054) in girls. There was an association between obesity and HBP. The BMI, SS, and UAFE in boys and the BMI and TUAA in girls explained ~16% of elevated SBP.     

Body image and depressive symptoms in 13‐year‐old adolescents

Aims: To evaluate the prevalence of body dissatisfaction and the association with depressive symptoms in 13‐year‐old adolescents, according to gender, and also to analyse the possible modifying effect of body mass index on this association. Methods: We evaluated 1868 adolescents as part of a population‐based study in an urban community in Porto, Portugal. Using the Figure Rating Scale, participants choose their perceived and their desired figures; body dissatisfaction was measured by the difference between these values. The Beck Disorder Inventory II was used to measure depressive symptoms. Weight and height were measured by trained interviewers. To quantify the association between depressive symptoms and body dissatisfaction, regression parameters and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were obtained by linear regression and bootstrapping. Results: Among females, 15.8% desired a bigger figure and 41.4% desired a thinner figure. Among males, this occurred for 34.1% and 33.5%, respectively. After adjustment, we found that body dissatisfaction was associated with increased depressive symptoms, in both genders, especially in those participants who wish to be thinner and in those presenting higher discrepancy between figures (B = 6.5, 95% CI 4.1;9.3 for females, B = 3.3, 95% CI 1.3;6.8 for males). The association between body dissatisfaction and depressive symptoms was stronger among non‐overweight (for participants who wish to be thinner: B = 5.18 95% CI 3.56; 6.95 vs. B = 3.49, 95% CI 1.70; 5.29 among females and B = 2.47, 95% CI 0.73; 4.76 vs. B = 1.60, 95% CI 0.34; 2.88 among males). Conclusions: The direct association between the wish to be thinner and depressive symptoms was stronger among the non‐overweight youth.     

Study of Television Viewing Habits in Children

Previous studies from developing countries have reported that Television (TV) viewing, if excessive and of poor quality has a proven negative influence on child health. Indian studies on this subject are few. The present study aimed at determining TV viewing habits of children and their families as well as parental perspectives on the impact of TV on child health using a provider completed indigenously developed questionnaire in Hindi. The study group comprised of 109 children attending a government hospital who belonged predominantly to lower socio-economic strata with poor maternal literacy. It was observed that 100 % children watched excessive TV (> 2 h daily), with majority viewing unsupervised and low quality content. There were minimal parental restrictions and no active discussion regarding contents. Negative impact was found on play, hobbies, sleep hygiene and eating habits in most children. Most parents were unaware of unhealthy viewing and the associated deleterious effects. As pediatricians we need to enquire about TV viewing habits routinely and educate parents about appropriate TV viewing.     

Accuracy of weight status perception in contemporary Australian children and adolescents

Aim: To explore weight status perception and its relation to actual weight status in a contemporary cohort of 5‐ to 17‐year‐old children and adolescents. Methods: Body mass index (BMI), derived from height and weight measurements, and perception of weight status (‘too thin’, ‘about right’ and ‘too fat’) were evaluated in 3043 participants from the Healthy Kids Queensland Survey. In children less than 12 years of age, weight status perception was obtained from the parents, whereas the adolescents self‐reported their perceived weight status. Results: Compared with measured weight status by established BMI cut‐offs, just over 20% of parents underestimated their child's weight status and only 1% overestimated. Adolescent boys were more likely to underestimate their weight status compared with girls (26.4% vs. 10.2%, P < 0.05) whereas adolescent girls were more likely to overestimate than underestimate (11.8% vs. 3.4%, P < 0.05). Underestimation was greater by parents of overweight children compared with those of obese children, but still less than 50% of parents identified their obese child as ‘too fat’. There was greater recognition of overweight status in the adolescents, with 83% of those who were obese reporting they were ‘too fat’. Conclusion: Whilst there was a high degree of accuracy of weight status perception in those of healthy weight, there was considerable underestimation of weight status, particularly by parents of children who were overweight or obese. Strategies are required that enable parents to identify what a healthy weight looks like and help them understand when intervention is needed to prevent further weight gain as the child gets older.     

Ghrelin concentrations reflect body mass index rather than feeding status in obese girls

Ghrelin stimulates both appetite and secretion of growth hormone (GH). We hypothesized that fasting should increase ghrelin, thereby increasing GH concentrations in obesity. Eight obese girls underwent a 48-h fast, receiving 25% of calories for ideal body weight. Blood was obtained every 15 min for the last 24 h of the fast. Four months later, six obese girls had blood obtained in the fed state. Two additional obese and five lean girls had blood obtained in the fed state. Ghrelin was determined in 3-h pools. Mean ghrelin concentrations were 0.41 +/- 0.03 ng/mL for lean girls and 0.16 +/- 0.01 ng/mL in obese fed girls (p < 0.0001). Lean fed girls had diurnal variation of ghrelin whereas obese fed girls did not. Fasting neither increased ghrelin (0.18 +/- 0.01 ng/mL) nor restored diurnal variation. Ghrelin concentrations were related to the body mass index (BMI) SD score (SDS) (r = 0.45, p = 0.005). For the six obese girls who participated in both fasting and fed studies, change in mean ghrelin concentration between studies was related to change in BMI SDS but not fed or fasting state. Ghrelin concentrations are, thus, a function of BMI rather than feeding status in obese girls.