Body image insatisfaction in students from the sixth grade of public schools in Caxias do Sul, Southern Brazil.

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the prevalence of body image insatisfaction among schoolchildren aged 11 to 14 years from the municipality of Caxias do Sul, Southern Brazil, and to determine the possible associations with nutritional status, socioeconomic status, gender, and maternal education.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted and 1,417 children were evaluated regarding total body weight, height, and waist circumference. Obesity was defined based on the body mass index according to sex and age. Body image was evaluated using a nine-silhouette scale. A descriptive and bivariate analysis was carried out between the independent variables and the outcome.

RESULTS

The prevalence of body image insatisfaction was 71.5%. Gender (PR 0.77, 95%CI 0.60 - 0.98) and nutritional status (PR 3.84, 95%CI 2.72 - 5.41) were significantly associated with body image insatisfaction. Maternal education, socioeconomic level, and age did not present any association with body image insatisfaction.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of body image insatisfaction in this population was high and should be a matter of concern to health professionals.