Maternal body image dissatisfaction and BMI change in school-age children.
OBJECTIVE
Parental body image dissatisfaction (BID) is associated with children's weight in cross-sectional studies; however, it is unknown whether BID predicts development of adiposity. The objective of the present study was to investigate the associations between maternal dissatisfaction with her or her child's body and children's BMI trajectories.


METHODS
Longitudinal study. Maternal dissatisfaction (BID) with her and her child's body was calculated based on ratings of Stunkard scales obtained at recruitment, as current minus desired body image. Children's height and weight were measured at baseline and annually for a median of 2·5 years. Mixed-effects models with restricted cubic splines were used to construct sex- and weight-specific BMI-for-age curves according to maternal BID levels.


METHODS
Public primary schools in Bogotá, Colombia.


METHODS
Children (n 1523) aged 5-12 years and their mothers.


RESULTS
After multivariable adjustment, heavy boys and thin girls whose mothers desired a thinner child gained an estimated 1·7 kg/m2 more BMI (P=0·04) and 2·4 kg/m2 less BMI (P=0·004), respectively, between the age 6 and 14 years, than children of mothers without BID. Normal-weight boys whose mothers desired a thinner child's body gained an estimated 1·8 kg/m2 less BMI than normal-weight boys of mothers without BID (P=0·02). Maternal BID with herself was positively related to children's BMI gain during follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Maternal BID is associated with child's BMI trajectories in a sex- and weight-specific manner.
1Department of Environmental Health Sciences,University of Michigan School of Public Health,Ann Arbor,MI,USA.
Ofra
O
Duchin
2Foundation for Research in Nutrition and Health,FINUSAD,Bogotá,Colombia.
Constanza
C
Marin
2Foundation for Research in Nutrition and Health,FINUSAD,Bogotá,Colombia.
Mercedes
M
Mora-Plazas
3Department of Epidemiology,University of Michigan School of Public Health,1420 Washington Heights,SPH II,Room M5055,Ann Arbor,MI 48109,USA.
Eduardo
E
Villamor
D050154:Adiposity; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003105:Colombia; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000209:etiology*; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012574:Schools; D012737:Sex Factors; D015430:Weight Gain
BMI trajectories; Body image dissatisfaction; Maternal body image; Schoolchildren