scholarly journals Heteronormativity in Schools is Associated with Unhealthy Weight-Control Behaviors in Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youth: A Multilevel Analysis.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolina da Franca Bandeira Ferreira Santos ◽  
Fabiana Godoy ◽  
Valdenice Menezes ◽  
Viviane Colares ◽  
Patrícia Zarzar ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Previous studies found that a school climate of more heteronormativity is associated with adverse effects on the mental health of LGB students. Accordingly, our aim was to assess the association between low LGB visibility in schools and unhealthy weight-control behaviors among LGB youth. Methods: Cross-sectional, multilevel study based in public high schools in the city of Olinda, Northeast Brazil. A multilevel logistic regression was performed, including 2,500 adolescents enrolled in 27 schools. The contextual variable was the prevalence of LGB youth in each school (as a proxy for heteronormativity in schools) while the outcome was unhealthy weight-control behaviors (fasting, purging, and taking diet pills). We controlled for socioeconomic characteristics (age, gender, receiving a family allowance), obesity, and self-reported happiness. Results: Low LGB visibility in schools was associated with higher odds of engaging in unhealthy weight-control behaviors (OR: 1.5, 95%CI: 1.0, 2.2) among all youth, regardless of sexual orientation. Among LGB youth, there was some suggestion that the association between LGB visibility and unhealthy weight control behaviors was mediated by experiences of victimization and self-perceptions of unhappiness.Conclusion: A school environment of low LGB visibility was associated with unhealthy weight-control behaviors in youth.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolina da Franca Bandeira Ferreira Santos ◽  
Fabiana Godoy ◽  
Valdenice Menezes ◽  
Viviane Colares ◽  
Patrícia Zarzar ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Previous studies found that a school climate of more heteronormativity is associated with adverse effects on the mental health of LGB students. Accordingly, our aim was to assess the association between low LGB visibility in schools and unhealthy weight-control behaviors among LGB youth. Methods Cross-sectional, multilevel study based in public high schools in the city of Olinda, Northeast Brazil. A multilevel logistic regression was performed, including 2,500 adolescents enrolled in 27 schools. The contextual variable was the prevalence of LGB youth in each school (as a proxy for heteronormativity in schools) while the outcome was unhealthy weight-control behaviors (fasting, purging, and taking diet pills). We controlled for socioeconomic characteristics (age, gender, receiving a family allowance), obesity, and self-reported happiness. Results Low LGB visibility in schools was associated with higher odds of engaging in unhealthy weight-control behaviors (OR: 1.5, 95%CI: 1.0, 2.2) among all youth, regardless of sexual orientation. Among LGB youth, there was some suggestion that the association between LGB visibility and unhealthy weight control behaviors was mediated by experiences of victimization and self-perceptions of unhappiness. Conclusion A school environment of low LGB visibility was associated with unhealthy weight-control behaviors in youth.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolina da Franca Bandeira Ferreir Santos ◽  
Fabiana Godoy ◽  
Valdenice Aparecida de Menezes ◽  
Viviane Colares ◽  
Patrícia Maria Pereira de Araújo Zarzar ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Previous studies have found that a school climate of more heteronormativity is associated with adverse effects on the mental health of LGB students. Accordingly, our aim was to assess the association between lower LGB prevalence in schools and unhealthy weight-control behaviors among LGB youth. Methods A cross-sectional, multilevel study based in public high schools in the city of Olinda, Northeast Brazil. A multilevel logistic regression was performed, including 2500 adolescents enrolled in 27 schools. The contextual variable was the prevalence of LGB youth in each school (as a proxy for heteronormativity in schools), while the outcome was unhealthy weight-control behaviors (fasting, purging, and taking diet pills). We controlled for socioeconomic characteristics (age, sex, receiving a family allowance), obesity, and self-reported happiness. Results Lower LGB prevalence in schools was associated with higher odds of engaging in unhealthy weight-control behaviors (OR: 1.5, 95%CI: 1.0, 2.2) among all youth, regardless of sexual orientation. No cross-level interactions between school context and individual characteristics were statistically significant. Conclusion Lower LGB prevalence in schools was associated with a higher risk of unhealthy weight-control behaviors in youth regardless of sexual orientation, which may reflect either the contextual influence of school climate, or may be due to residual confounding.


2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 431-436 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Carolina B. Leme ◽  
Sonia Tucunduva Philippi

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association between weight teasing, body satisfaction and weight control behaviors. METHODS: Cross-sectional study based on adaptation and validity research of a North American questionnaire for adolescent girls about physical activity, nutrition, body image, perceptions, and behaviors. The variables used to conduct the study were weight control behaviors, body satisfaction and presence of teasing by family members. Descriptive analyses were carried out by chi-square test, being significant p<0.05. RESULTS: A total of 159 adolescent girls, with 16.2±1.3 years old were enrolled in this study. Of the total, 60.1% reported that family members did not tease them. The teasing was associated with weight dissatisfaction (p<0.001), body shape (p=0.006), belly (p=0.001), waist (p=0.001), face (p=0.009), arms (p=0.014) and shoulders (p=0.001). As a consequence, there was association with unhealthy weight control behaviors (p<0.001), vomiting (p=0,011), diet (p=0.002) and use of laxatives (p=0.035). CONCLUSIONS: The teasing about body image by family members was associated with risk for unhealthy weight control behaviors in female adolescents.


Author(s):  
Mercè Pollina-Pocallet ◽  
Eva Artigues-Barberà ◽  
Glòria Tort-Nasarre ◽  
Joaquim Sol ◽  
Laura Azlor ◽  
...  

Adolescence is associated with a higher vulnerability that may result in a high dissatisfaction, the practice of unhealthy weight-control behaviors (UWCB) and, eventually, the onset of body image-related mental disorders. These factors are strongly associated with the social context, so it is important to characterize them in local or regional studies. To assess the relationship between body image and UWCB presence, a cross-sectional study was performed among 2496 schooled adolescents from Lleida (Spain) between 2017 and 2019. Their perceived and desired images were evaluated and compared with the real image in order to obtain the body distortion and the body dissatisfaction and relate them with UWCB. The studied individuals perceived themselves thinner than they actually were, with no differences between males and females. However, differences were found regarding body dissatisfaction, showing that females desired to be thinner, while males desired a more corpulent body image. Furthermore, one out of ten individuals reported UWCB, with higher prevalence among females. UWCB was associated with a desire to be thinner and with distorted body images. It is essential to work on self-perception and self-acceptance in early adolescence from an interdisciplinary perspective at educational, social and health levels to promote health in adolescence.


2018 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 335-341 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason M. Nagata ◽  
Andrea K. Garber ◽  
Jennifer L. Tabler ◽  
Stuart B. Murray ◽  
Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo

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