Associação da percepção da imagem com a composição corporal em crianças e adolescentes

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the association between the perception of the body image and the body composition. Methods: A cross-sectional study included individuals aged between 7 and 19 years. The perception of body image was evaluated through the Brazilian Silhouettes Scales, where the participants identified which body figures on the scale best represented their current and ideal figure. The evaluation of the body composition was performed through the Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA). The averages of the composition variables and body image categories were compared using the T test for independent samples and the ANOVA variance test. Results: Three hundred and seventy-five individuals participated in the study; 204 (54.4%) were female. The mean age of children and adolescents was 12.56 ± 3.23 years, with 80 (21.3%) participants aged 7 to 9 years and 295 (78.7%) between 10 and 19 years. There was a predominance of the white race with 215 (66.6%) participants. Regarding the current body image, the image of number 5, corresponding to the Body Mass Index (BMI) 18.8 kg / m², followed by the image of number 3, corresponding to the BMI 15.4 kg / m² were the ones with the highest prevalence 25, 7% and 16.69%, respectively. When the averages of composition and body image variables were analyzed by sex and age, statistical differences were observed in some groups. The only group that showed statistical difference in relation to body composition was the group of girls from 7 to 9 years old. The mean BMI and Percentage of Muscle Mass (percentage of muscle mass) were higher and the percentage of muscle mass in the dissatisfied group compared to that satisfied. When analyzing the perception of the image and body composition according to these groups, we noticed that the boys and girls of 7 to 9 years present significant differences between the means. The group of subjects who were classified in the underestimated and overestimated category present upper and lower means, respectively, of BMI variables and percentage of muscle mass in comparison with the accurate group for both boys and girls. The percentage of muscle mass, boys and girls, mean values did not follow the same behavior. In the female participants, those who were classified in the underestimated and overestimated categories presented lower and higher mean values, respectively, when compared to the accurate ones. In boys from this same age group, both groups had lower values than those who acted. Conclusion: The association between image perception and body composition shows a behavior that would vary according to gender and age group in children and adolescents.