scholarly journals Body mass index, personality traits, and body image in Italian pre-adolescents: An opportunity for overweight prevention

Psihologija ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 52 (4) ◽  
pp. 379-393 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veronica Rosa ◽  
Manuela Tomai ◽  
Marco Lauriola ◽  
Gabriella Martino ◽  
Trani Di

We investigated the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and personality traits, socioeconomic status (SES), and body image (BI) at the beginning of preadolescence. Data were collected from 238 Italian children aged 10?11 years using self-report scales. Information about SES was derived from parental education and professional status. BI was the variable the most strongly associated with BMI. Controlling for BI, SES, and gender, Agreeableness was inversely associated with BMI, whilst Extroversion was related to BMI in girls only. Gender did not moderate the associations between BI and BMI at this age. The relationship of certain personality traits with BMI is likely to emerge during preadolescence. Early interventions to reduce overweight and obesity could consider the interplay of Agreeableness and Extroversion with gender, BI, and SES.

2011 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 539-546 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary S. Goldfield ◽  
Marisa A. Murray ◽  
Annick Buchholz ◽  
Katherine Henderson ◽  
Nicole Obeid ◽  
...  

Family meals have been identified as a protective factor against obesity among youth. However, gender specificities with respect to the relationship between the frequency of family meals and body mass index (BMI) have not been investigated. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the frequency of family meals and BMI in male and female adolescents, while controlling for potential confounding factors associated with BMI, such as parental education, adolescent’s age, and snack-food eating. Research participants were 734 male and 1030 female students (mean age, 14.12 years, SD = 1.62) recruited from middle schools and high schools in the capital region of Canada. Participants completed validated, self-report measures to assess the frequency of family meals and the risk factors associated with increased BMI, which was derived from objective measures of height and weight. After controlling for proposed confounding variables, a higher frequency of family meals was associated with lower BMI in females, but not in males. A Z-transformation test of the homogeneity of adjusted correlation coefficients showed a significant trend (p = 0.06), indicating that the relationship between family meals and BMI is stronger in females than males, consistent with our regression analyses. Our findings suggest that eating together as a family may be a protective factor against obesity in female adolescents, but not in male adolescents. Findings from this study have important implications for parents and health care practitioners advocating for more frequent family meals as part of a comprehensive obesity prevention and treatment program for female adolescents.


Author(s):  
Jonathan E. Handelzalts ◽  
Yael Ben-Artzy-Cohen

The Draw-A-Person (DAP) test has been the center of a long-lasting debate regarding its validity. This study investigated the DAP indices of height, width (size), and inclusion/omission of details and their relation to body image as measured by a self-report scale (Gray’s body image scale) and manifested by the diet behaviors and body mass index of 55 healthy female students. Although the drawings of the diet group were smaller, there was no significant relationship between figure size and diet behaviors. However, body image as measured by a self-report scale did result in significant differences between groups. Moreover, there was a significant correlation between the size of the figure drawn and body image as measured by a self-report scale (larger figures correlated with better body image). No significant results were found for the omission/inclusion indices of the DAP. These results are discussed in light of previous findings regarding the DAP.


2021 ◽  
pp. 154041532110298
Author(s):  
Christopher Johansen ◽  
Kim D. Reynolds ◽  
Bin Xie ◽  
Paula Palmer

Background: Positive associations have been observed between acculturation and body mass index (BMI), but the mediators of this relationship are not well established. Acculturation researchers have called for investigating the influence of socio-contextual variables as mediators. The objective of this study was to test the mediating effects of salty snacks, sweet snacks, physical activity, and sedentary behavior on the relationship between acculturation and BMI among Latino adolescents. Methods: Adolescents who self-identified as Latino ( n = 431) at public high schools in Southern California were recruited and completed a self-report survey. A bootstrapped multiple mediation model was used to test mediation pathways. Results: Acculturation was positively associated with physical activity ( B = 0.09, p < .05). The indirect effects of salty snacks, sweet snacks, physical activity, and sedentary behavior were not associated with BMI, suggesting no mediation. Conclusions: Future research should examine additional mediating variables on the relationship between acculturation and BMI.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 1248-1248
Author(s):  
Tina Sergi ◽  
Katherine Bode ◽  
Deana Hildebrand ◽  
Jay Dawes ◽  
Jill Joyce

Abstract Objectives The prevalence of overweight and obesity among tactical populations is estimated at 70–75%, which may negatively impact health and performance. Since the relationship between BMI and health and performance is not well studied in tactical populations, the purpose of this study was to systematically review available literature on the relationship between BMI and health and performance among law enforcement officers (LEO), firefighters, and military personnel. Methods Literature searches were conducted in PubMed and SCOPUS using combinations of search terms: body mass index, health*, cardiovascular disease, heart disease, heart attack, myocardial infarction, heart failure, stroke, hypertension, cancer, diabetes, performance, physical fitness test*, physical training, fitness test*, injur*, law enforcement, police, trooper, firefighter, military, soldier, airmen, and sailor. Included studies used BMI as an adiposity assessment; involved cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancer, diabetes (T2DM), performance testing, and injuries among US LEOs, firefighters, or military personnel; and involved peer-reviewed primary research between 2000–2020. Review studies; studies on other tactical populations, retirees, and trainees; and studies using BMI as a covariate were excluded. Included articles were critically appraised using the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Quality Criteria Checklist. Results Twenty-seven articles were included. Overall quality was neutral. Nine studies found BMI was positively associated with CVD risk factors. Studies involving BMI and cancer were lacking. One study found BMI was positively associated with T2DM risk. Five studies on occupational/physical performance and twelve studies on injury found a higher BMI was often indicative of decreased performance and increased risk of injury in general, but protective against stress fractures. Conclusions Higher BMI was often associated with negative health and performance outcomes among tactical populations, especially when beyond the overweight classification. Public health practitioners should focus efforts on improving nutrition and physical activity to promote a healthy BMI among these individuals. Funding Sources None.


2016 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 225-229
Author(s):  
Carmen Denise Caldararu ◽  
Dorin Tarta ◽  
Raluca Pop ◽  
Mirela Gliga ◽  
Emilian Carasca ◽  
...  

AbstractObesity and chronic kidney disease are epidemic size. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) appears to be more common in obese, although interrelation is not supported by all authors.Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of overweight and obesity on glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and other risk factors for CKD.Methods: This is a cross-sectional study on 627 patients admitted in a Nephrology Department between January 2007 - December 2011. Patients were divided according to eGFR in a CKD group and a non-CKD group. Patients were divided based on BMI in: normal (<25 kg/m2), overweight (≥ 25 kg/m2 and ≤30 kg/m2) and obese (>30 kg/m2). Demographical, clinical and laboratory data (serum creatinine, lipid parameters, etc) were used for the statistical analysis. The relationship between BMI (as a marker of obesity and overweight), glomerular filtration rate and other possible risk factors for chronic kidney disease was studied.Results: 43.70% patients were obese and 33.17% overweight. CKD prevalence was 58.69%. Logistic regression analysis showed that systolic blood pressure was the main determinant of CKD in our patients.Conclusion: Lack of association between BMI and CKD was demonstrated in our study.


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Geubrina Kananda ◽  
Eka Roina Megawati

According to the World Health Organization in 2010, overweight and obesity are the fifth risk factors of the cause of death in the world. Obesity is influenced by the level of physical activity and it could cause a disturbance in dynamic balance and induce sleep disorder known as sleep apnea. Meanwhile, the lack of physical activity also affects the dynamic balance that can increase the risk of fall injury during the dynamic physical activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship among body mass index, physical activity, the dynamic balance, and sleep patterns. The subjects of this study were 72 young adults aged 20 years in average, consisted of 47 males and 25 females. The body mass index was undertaken by dividing the body weight (kg) and height in meter square (m2). The level of physical activity was performed by using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Meanwhile, the dynamic balance was measured by using the modified Bass test; while sleep patterns was measured by using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. This study found that there was a significant association between BMI and dynamic balance with p value = 0.006 (p 0.05); whereas physical activity was not significantly associated to the dynamic balance (p0.05). Meanwhile, body mass index and physical activity were not significantly associated to sleep patterns (p 0.05). This study concludes that body mass index has a significant association to dynamic balance. Meanwhile, dynamic balance is highly needed in carrying out dynamic physical activity to avoid fall injury.


Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 1492 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evelyn Medawar ◽  
Cornelia Enzenbach ◽  
Susanne Roehr ◽  
Arno Villringer ◽  
Steffi Riedel-Heller ◽  
...  

Restricting animal-based products from diet may exert beneficial effects on weight status; however, less is known about such a diet and emotional health. Moreover, personality traits, for example high neuroticism, may contribute to restrictive eating habits and potentially confound diet-health associations. We aim to systematically assess if restrictive dietary intake of animal-based products relates to lower weight and higher depressive symptoms, and if differences in personality traits play a significant role. Cross-sectional data from the baseline LIFE-Adult study were collected from 2011–2014 in Leipzig, Germany (n = 8943). Main outcomes of interest were dietary frequency of animal-derived products in the last year measured using a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), body-mass-index (BMI) (kg/m2), and the Center of Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Personality traits were assessed in a subsample of n = 7906 using the Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI). Higher restriction of animal-based product intake was associated with a lower BMI, but not with depression scores. Personality, i.e., lower extraversion, was related to lower frequency of animal product intake. Moreover, personality traits were significantly associated with depressive symptoms, i.e., higher neuroticism, lower extraversion, lower agreeableness, lower conscientiousness, and with higher BMI. These findings encourage future longitudinal studies to test the efficacy of restricting animal-based products as a preventive and therapeutic strategy for overweight and obesity.


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