title: Body perceptions and slimming attitudes reported by Spanish adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and the desire to lose weight, body parts wanted to be reduced and weight-loss practices.
  
  
  METHODS
  A standardized questionnaire was self-completed by the participants. Anthropometric measurements were obtained by a research assistant.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty males and 105 females from 12 to 18 y old randomly selected from education centers in Madrid, Spain.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Body dissatisfaction in 56% of the females and the 27% of the males was observed. In spite of the low prevalence of overweight (10% males and 6% females), many adolescents reported themselves to be overweight: more girls (27%) than boys (12.5%) (P < 0.05) by Q2 (6.26) were cognitively inclined to weight loss even though they were not overweight (body mass index, BMI > 25 kg/m2). Adolescents desired a slimming of the abdomen (82% males and 52% females), thighs (18% boys and 39% girls), hips (6% and 18% males and females, respectively) and buttocks (23% males and 42% females). Methods selected to lose weight were: physical activity or sport (73% boys and 68% girls), not to have snacks (66% girls and 23% boys), select foods with low energy content (42% boys and 37% girls), follow own diet (31% girls and 23% boys), follow medical advice (31% boys and 17% girls) and trying to be amused to forget foods (13% girls and 11% boys).
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Nutrición, Facultad de Farmacia, Ciudad Universitaria, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cuadrado
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carbajal
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Moreiras
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires