Imagem corporal de crianças/adolescentes obesos entre os 7 - 12 anos e seus progenitores.

Abstract

Introdution: Body image and weight are a major source of concerne since early ages. The aim of thisstudy is to evaluate self-image among obese children and their parents.Patients and Methods: We evaluate 94 obese children/adolescents (M=48; F=46) and their parents,followed at the Nutrition Outpatient Pediatric Clinic. Study protocol included nutritional status andbody image (BMI: Frisancho) and their parents (BMI: WHO). The body image of children/adolescentsand parents was evaluated through a scale consisting of seven pictures of both sexes, varying betweenthinness (F1) and obesity (F7), considering the ideal image as F4. Data were analised for the totalsample and taking into account sex and age groups (7-9 years old and 10-12 years old).Results: The two groups 7-9 years (n= 41) and 10-12 years (n=53) have a mean age of 8.17±0.83and 10.64±0.52 respectively. All children/adolescents present nutritional obesity and identify themselves predominantly with the F6 picture (M=54% and F=57%). The majority of boys and girls (M=54%and F=50%) would like to have a ideal image F4. However, an important proportion of females(39%) and males (36%) would like to be thiner (F1+ F2 + F3).Conclusions: There is an adequate perception of image and recognition of the obesity by mostchildren and adolescents. The body image perception has an important place in the evaluation andintervention in pediatric obesity.