Body perception and dissatisfaction: an investigation with Brazilian children

Abstract

Distortioned body perception and body dissatisfaction are symptoms to eating disorders diagnose. These disorders have increased their prevalence and decreased their age of beginning, appearing in seven year old children. The body figure perception and the presence of body dissatisfaction were analyzed in a sample of children in the city of São Luis, Maranhão. Three hundred forty seven children (160 boys and 187 girls) from 8 to 12 years were weighed, measured, and completed the questionnaire Children Body Image Scale regarding body perception and dissatisfaction. The results indicates that 26,4% of the children are overweight or obese, that the degree of body perception was underestimated and that 64% presents body dissatisfaction. Also appeared significantly differences from desired figure on sex, from discrepancy on Body Mass Index (BMI) and age, and from body dissatisfaction on BMI. As results show that distortioned body perception and dissatisfaction occur in infancy, specific and validated instruments are necessary in Brazil, such as investigations about the genesis and maintenance of those factors in order to create treatment and prevention programs.