Olvera Norma, Suminski Richard, Power Thomas G
Department of Health and Human Performance, University of Houston, 3855 Holman Street, Room 104, TX 77204-6015, USA.
Obes Res. 2005 Nov;13(11):1970-9. doi: 10.1038/oby.2005.242.
To assess role of BMI, gender, and acculturation on maternal and children's perception of body size, body ideal, and attractiveness.
Eighty mothers and their 6- to- 12-year-old children (41 boys, 39 girls) participated. Maternal and children's perceptions of body size (actual and ideal) and attractiveness were assessed through a pictorial instrument. Mother and child height and weight, demographic, and acculturation characteristics were also assessed.
Seventy-nine percent of the mothers were overweight, and 32% of the boys and 34% of the girls were overweight or at-risk for overweight. BMI influenced the children's selection of perceived ideal size. Overweight or at-risk for overweight children were more likely to select thinner figures as the ideal size than non-overweight children. Gender and acculturation differences concerning children's perceptions of body size and attractiveness were also found. Girls perceived the obese figure as being less attractive than did the boys. More acculturated children were likely to select thinner figures as more attractive than their less acculturated counterparts. Maternal acculturation was associated positively with the girls' choice of thinner figures as an ideal body size, but not with the boys. Mothers viewed their daughters' actual body size and BMI as ideal, although 34% of the girls were at-risk for overweight. Mothers perceived average body size figures as more attractive for their sons.
Findings from this study provide empirical data about the role of BMI, gender, acculturation, and familial influences on children's perceptions of actual and ideal body sizes and attractiveness.
评估体重指数（BMI）、性别和文化适应程度对母亲及儿童对体型、理想体型和吸引力认知的作用。
80位母亲及其6至12岁的孩子（41名男孩，39名女孩）参与了研究。通过一种图片工具评估母亲及儿童对体型（实际和理想）和吸引力的认知。还评估了母亲和孩子的身高、体重、人口统计学特征及文化适应特征。
79%的母亲超重，32%的男孩和34%的女孩超重或有超重风险。BMI影响儿童对理想体型的选择。超重或有超重风险的儿童比非超重儿童更有可能选择较瘦的体型作为理想体型。在儿童对体型和吸引力的认知方面也发现了性别和文化适应差异。女孩认为肥胖体型比男孩认为的更缺乏吸引力。文化适应程度较高的儿童比文化适应程度较低的儿童更有可能选择较瘦的体型作为更有吸引力的体型。母亲的文化适应程度与女孩选择较瘦体型作为理想体型呈正相关，但与男孩无关。母亲认为女儿的实际体型和BMI是理想的，尽管34%的女孩有超重风险。母亲认为平均体型对儿子更有吸引力。
本研究结果提供了关于BMI、性别、文化适应程度和家庭影响对儿童对实际和理想体型及吸引力认知作用的实证数据。
