Imagem corporal dos escolares do nono ano da rede municipal no sul do Brasil.

Abstract

The perception of the body as a whole or parts of it is called body image. It is considered multidimensional, involving physical, behavioral, and social aspects and when it happens in a negative way, it can be called body dissatisfaction. Adolescence, a phase marked by several physical and psychological changes in the individual's life, is a period of great vulnerability to this negative perception, which can impact physical and psychological health. Thus, the present study was conducted in order to describe the feeling in relation to body image and possible associated factors among schoolchildren in the urban area of the city of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul. Crosssectional census-type study with all students enrolled in the ninth grade in the morning and afternoon shifts in the 25 municipal schools of complete elementary education linked to the Health at School Program, located in the urban area of that municipality. To characterize the study population and investigate the variables of interest, a standardized questionnaire was used. Weight and height measurements were also taken to assess nutritional status, using a Tanita brand scale with a capacity of 150 kg and accuracy of 100 grams and a measuring tape fixed to the wall with the scale inverted. Nutritional status was assessed according to the anthropometric indicator of body mass index for age in the AnthroPlus software, up to 19 years of age. For older adults, the cutoff points for the body mass index for the adult population were used. Data were double entered in Epidata 3.1 software and statistical analyzes performed in Stata 13.0. Pearson's chi-square test was used to analyze the distribution of the outcome according to exposure variables, and later multinomial logistic regression was performed to test crude and adjusted association for potential confounding factors. For all analyses, a significance level of 5% was considered. 810 students participated in the study, 30.8% of them were dissatisfied with their body image. Greater chance of dissatisfaction with body image in females, in those who had already smoked, suffered bullying, who did not attribute any importance to body image, perceived themselves as being fat and trying to gain weight. Also, the a greater chance of indifference in relation to image among obese students. Prevalence of body dissatisfaction as expected, when compared to other studies, among the dissatisfied, there is a greater chance of negative behaviors such as tobacco use and exposure to bullying. Health education actions in the school environment can elucidate the impact of excess weight on health, as well as reinforce guidance on health risk behaviors present among students, arousing interest in seeking professional guidance so that the necessary changes can take place in a healthy way.