Body image, body dissatisfaction and weight status in children from Emilia-Romagna (Italy): comparison between immigrant and native-born.
BACKGROUND
Cross-sectional study among immigrant and native children from Emilia-Romagna (Italy).


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the present study was to examine the relative contribution of weight status, ethnicity and sex on body dissatisfaction in a sample of children from Emilia-Romagna (Italy).


METHODS
Primary school children (226 immigrants and 1206 Italians) aged 6-11 years were measured: immigrant children were divided into Asians, Africans, Latin Americans and East Europeans. Height and weight were measured and Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated. Body image perception was assessed using Body Silhouette Charts. A body dissatisfaction score (BDS) was derived by subtracting the "ideal self" from the "self" score.


RESULTS
Weight status disorders were higher in immigrants than in native-born males; Italian females had higher prevalence of underweight and overweight and lower prevalence of obesity than immigrants peers. BDS rose with the increase of weight status categories.


CONCLUSIONS
Awareness of body image size and increasing body dissatisfaction with higher weight status is established in childhood, regardless of ethnicity and gender.
Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna , Bologna , Italy.
Stefania
S
Toselli
Patricia
P
Brasili
Federico
F
Spiga
D000367:Age Factors; D001828:Body Image; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D013851:Thinness / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology