title: [Body dissatisfaction among adolescents: a population-based study].
abstract: The scope of this study was to evaluate body dissatisfaction among adolescents, and to explore differences according to sex, socioeconomic status and body mass index. 4325 individuals aged 14-15 years old from Pelotas, Brazil, were studied. Body dissatisfaction was evaluated comparing the desired image with the perceived image, according to the Tiggemann & Wilson-Barret silhouette scale. The nutritional status was categorized in accordance with World Health Organization criteria, whereas socioeconomic status was evaluated using classifications of the Brazilian Association of Research Institutes. It was found that 27.6% of teens were overweight. Body dissatisfaction, appraised by the silhouette scale, affected 51% of boys and 65.6% of girls. The economic and nutritional status was associated with the outcome. Most overweight adolescents wished to have a slimmer silhouette than the perceived one. The economic level modified the effect of nutritional status on body dissatisfaction. Adolescents from the wealthier economic classes who were not in the ideal weight range manifested greater body dissatisfaction than the less affluent individuals and, irrespective of economic status, girls are more dissatisfied with excess body weight and boys with slimness.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Social, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Rua Marechal Deodoro 1160/3º piso, Centro, 96020-220 Pelotas RS. scdumith@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Samuel de Carvalho
authors.initials: Sde C
authors.lastname: Dumith
authors.forename: Ana Maria Baptista
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Menezes
authors.forename: Renata Moraes
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Bielemann
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Petresco
authors.forename: Inácio Crochemore Mohnsan
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Rogério da Silva
authors.initials: Rda S
authors.lastname: Linhares
authors.forename: Tales Costa
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Amorim
authors.forename: Daniel Vanti
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.forename: Cora Luíza Pavin
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.forename: Janaína Vieira
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: dos Santos
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001828:Body Image; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012649:Self Concept; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors