Impact of Body Image Perception on Weight Status: A Refuelling of Non-communicable Disease in Urban South African Zulu Women: Not Just Calipers, Tapes and Scales

Abstract Background: Adolescence is a period of life in which students face physical and psychological changes that can destabilise them, and that is characterised by specific health and developmental needs and rights. The aim of this study was to evaluate the longitudinal association between anthropometric, weight status, body composition changes, and body image perception, keeping into account sex and maturity differences in adolescents. Methods: A sample of 134 children (64 males and 70 females) attending secondary school in the Emilia Romagna region (northern Italy) have been followed longitudinally for three consecutive years. Sports practice was assessed by questionnaire, and maturity status was detected. Anthropometric measurements, body composition, and body image perception were carried out. The discrepancy between the actual figure and the ideal figure was used to determine the degree of body image dissatisfaction, while improper perception of weight status was evaluated by means of Feel weight status minus Actual weight status Inconsistency (FAI).Results: A high percentage of the sample (about 90% in both sexes) practiced sport during the three years. In males, since they were approaching the PHV, leg length growth was prevalent. In females, height increment was lower than the one observed in males, such as the sitting height increment was higher than that of leg length. Connected with sexual dimorphism is also the trend of skinfold thicknesses, which generally showed a decrease in males and increase in females during the three years. Percentage of body fat followed the same trend. In both sex, body image perception did not show significant variations with age, and FAI score indicated no inconsistency in weight status perception. A difference in the perception of body image was observed in subjects of different weight status categories in each class. Conclusions: As demonstrated by the present study, the body image perception did not seem to change with age, but associations were found between body image perception and weight status. Monitoring perception in young adolescents, as well as taking into account their maturity and weight status is a priority to prevent nutritional disorders.

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Socio-Demographic Factors and Body Image Perception Are Associated with BMI-For-Age among Children Living in Welfare Homes in Selangor, Malaysia

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu11010142 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 142 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Nur A Rahim ◽

Yit Chin ◽

Norhasmah Sulaiman

Keyword(s):

Body Image ◽

Body Weight ◽

Weight Status ◽

Body Shape ◽

Demographic Factors ◽

Overweight And Obesity ◽

Image Perception ◽

Body Image Perception ◽

Body Weight Status ◽

Socio Demographic Factors

Considering the double burden of malnutrition in Malaysia, data on malnourished children living in welfare homes are limited. This study aimed to determine the body weight status of children living in welfare homes and its associated factors. A total of 307 children aged 7–17 years old living in 15 selected welfare homes completed a standardized questionnaire, and their body weight and height were measured by trained researchers. There were 54.4% orphans, 23.8% abandoned children, and 21.8% children from problematic families. There were 51.5% boys and 48.5% girls; 52.4% were Malays, followed by 31.3% Indians, 12.7% Chinese, and 3.6% from other ethnic groups. The prevalence of overweight and obesity (23.1%) was higher than the prevalence of thinness (8.5%). In bivariate analyses, socio-demographic factors of age (p = 0.003), sex (p = 0.0001), ethnicity (p = 0.001), and welfare home enrollment status (p = 0.003), and psychological factors of self-esteem (p = 0.003), body shape dissatisfaction (p = 0.0001), and underestimation of body weight status (p = 0.002), were significantly associated with body mass index (BMI)-for-age. In the multiple linear regression analysis, children who were either Malays (β = 0.492) or Chinese (β = 0.678), with a status of being abandoned (β = 0.409), with body shape dissatisfaction (β = 0.457), and underestimated body weight status (β = 0.628) significantly explained 39.7% of the variances in higher BMI-for-age (F = 39.550; p < 0.05). Besides socio-demographic background, the current findings emphasized the importance of incorporating body image perception in an obesity prevention intervention program in welfare homes.

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Development of a BMI-Assigned Stunkard Scale for the Evaluation of Body Image Perception Based on Data of the SOS Reference Study

Obesity Facts ◽

10.1159/000516991 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Verena Parzer ◽

Kajsa Sjöholm ◽

Johanna Maria Brix ◽

Per-Arne Svensson ◽

Bernhard Ludvik ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Image ◽

Weight Status ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Test Accuracy ◽

Image Perception ◽

Optimal Cutoff ◽

Body Image Perception ◽

Figure Rating Scale ◽

Measured Weight ◽

Reference Cohort

Introduction: Stunkard’s figure rating scale is a widely used tool to assess weight status and, more recently, body image perception in people with obesity. However, large population-based studies on Europeans linking this scale’s silhouettes with measured BMI values are lacking. Therefore, we used measured weight and height data from the Swedish Obese Subjects (SOS) reference cohort to assign a mean BMI to each of the 9 Stunkard Scale silhouettes and to define silhouette cutoff values for categorizing people with obesity and overweight. Methods: A total of 1,128 participants from the SOS reference cohort were included (54% females, BMI = 25.2 [ranging from 17.6 to 45.4] ±3.8 kg/m2, and age = 50 [ranging from 36 to 62] ±7 years [means ± standard deviation]). Patients estimated their own body size by choosing a silhouette of the Stunkard Scale. A mean BMI, based on measured weight and height, was assigned to each male and female silhouette of the Stunkard Scale. Measured BMI values were compared with BMI values calculated by simple linear regression analysis. ROC analysis was used to test accuracy of discrimination and the Youden index to assess optimal cutoff. Results: Figure ratings and BMI were strongly correlated in men, r (518) = 0.76, p < 0.001 and women, r (606) = 0.80, p < 0.001. Silhouette selection significantly predicted BMI values in men, β = 16.03, t (518) = 25.30, p < 0.001, and women, β = 12.06, t (606) = 32.98, p < 0.001, and explained a significant proportion of variance in BMI values in men, R2 = 0.55, F (1, 518) = 639.98, p < 0.001, and women, R2 = 0.64, F (1, 606) = 1,087.88, p < 0.001. ROC curve analyses resulted in an optimal cutoff value of 6 for identifying people with obesity and 5 for overweight. Conclusion: Stunkard’s figure rating scale can be used with confidence to assess weight status. Silhouette selection accurately classifies subjects as overweight or obese.

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Body Image Perception and Eating Behaviors among Male Middle and High School Students according to Weight Status in Seoul

Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life ◽

10.17495/easdl.2018.4.28.2.123 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 28 (2) ◽

pp. 123-135

Author(s):

Bo-Mi Kim ◽

Kyung-Hee Kim

Keyword(s):

High School ◽

Body Image ◽

High School Students ◽

Weight Status ◽

Eating Behaviors ◽

Image Perception ◽

School Students ◽

Body Image Perception

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Body image perception and body composition in early adolescents: a longitudinal study of an Italian cohort

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-11458-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Stefania Toselli ◽

Alessia Grigoletto ◽

Luciana Zaccagni ◽

Natascia Rinaldo ◽

Georgian Badicu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Image ◽

Body Composition ◽

Weight Status ◽

Body Image Dissatisfaction ◽

Overweight And Obesity ◽

Height Velocity ◽

Leg Length ◽

Image Perception ◽

Body Image Perception ◽

Sitting Height

Abstract Background Adolescence is a sensitive period of life in which everyone faces physical and psychological changes. No longitudinal studies considering changes in body image perception and body composition in Italian adolescents have been carried out. The aims of this study were to evaluate the longitudinal change in body composition and weight status in a sample of Italian students of both sexes over the 3 years of middle school and to analyse the influence of these parameters on the perception and satisfaction of one’s own body image. Methods Sixty-four males and seventy females were followed longitudinally from 11 to 14. Age at first measurement was 11.8 ± 0.3 yrs. in males and 11.9 ± 0.3 yrs. in females, then the students were measured again after 1 year and 2 years. Anthropometric measurements were collected and body composition was assessed by skinfolds. Maturity status was detected by age at menarche in females and by estimated age at peak height velocity in males; sports practice was assessed by a questionnaire. Body Silhouette Charts were used to assess body image perception. The degree of body image dissatisfaction and improper perception of weight status were evaluated. Univariate and multivariate analyses were applied. Results Height, sitting height, leg length, and weight increments were higher in males than in females, and in both sexes the sitting height increment was higher than that of leg length. Skinfold thicknesses and percentage of body fat, showed a decrease in males and an increase in females over the 3 years. About 90% of the sample practiced sport during the 3 years. No significant variations in body image perception were observed among repeated measures but significantly differences were observed between sexes. Although the girls showed a lower incidence of overweight and obesity than boys, girls had a higher dissatisfaction than males. Males were less accurate in one’s perception of one’s own weight status. Conclusions The changes in body composition observed in the sample of the present study were in accordance with their maturity stage. An increase in parameters connected with adiposity is observed in females and a decrease in males. Body image perception did not seem to change with growth, but associations were found between body image perception and BMI and sex. Monitoring body image perception in young adolescents, especially in females and in overweight/obese subjects, is a priority to prevent nutritional disorders.

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Weight status, fatness and body image perception of North African immigrant women in Italy

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980016000872 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 19 (15) ◽

pp. 2743-2751 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Emanuela Gualdi-Russo ◽

Natascia Rinaldo ◽

Meriem Khyatti ◽

Chérifa Lakhoua ◽

Stefania Toselli

Keyword(s):

Body Image ◽

Nutritional Status ◽

Weight Status ◽

Immigrant Women ◽

Obesity Prevalence ◽

North African ◽

Image Perception ◽

Anthropometric Measures ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Body Image Perception

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate the nutritional status of North African (NA) immigrant women in Italy, analysing their body size, adiposity and body image perception in comparison to Italian natives and NA residents.DesignThe study utilized a cross-sectional design. Anthropometric traits were directly measured and a few indices were computed as proxy measures of nutritional status and adiposity. Body image perception was assessed using silhouette drawings. ANCOVA, adjusted for age, was used to compare anthropometric traits among different groups of women and the χ2 test to analyse differences in the prevalence of nutritional status.SettingItaly and North Africa (Tunisia, Morocco).SubjectsA sample of 433 women aged 18–60 years old: NA immigrants (n 105); Italians (n 100); Tunisians (n 104); Moroccans (n 124).ResultsOverweight/obesity prevalence was very high in immigrants (79·8 %). Immigrants had the highest BMI value, the greatest hip circumference and mid upper-arm circumference. Their triceps skinfold thickness was significantly higher than that of Italians, but lower than that of NA residents.ConclusionsNA immigrant women in Italy showed a higher incidence of overweight compared with Italians and NA residents. All groups showed a preference for a thinner body in comparison to their actual bodies and the immigrants are the most dissatisfied. Immigrants remain a high-risk group for obesity. Assessment of their body composition and health risk profile should be improved by using specific anthropometric measures that are easy to collect even in the case of large migration flows.

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