Social factors, weight perception, and weight control practices among adolescents in Mexico.
We evaluated the association of social factors and weight control practices in adolescents, and the mediation of this association by weight perception, in a national survey of students in Mexico ( n = 28,266). We employed multinomial and Poisson regression models and Sobel's test to assess mediation. Students whose mothers had a higher level of education were more likely to perceive themselves as overweight and also to engage in weight control practices. After adjusting for body weight perception, the effect of maternal education on weight control practices remained significant. Mediation tests were significant for boys and non-significant for girls.
1 El Colegio de la Frontera Norte, Mexico.
Ietza
I
Bojorquez
2 Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatria Ramon de la Fuente Muñiz, Mexico.
Jorge
J
Villatoro
2 Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatria Ramon de la Fuente Muñiz, Mexico.
Marlene
M
Delgadillo
2 Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatria Ramon de la Fuente Muñiz, Mexico.
Clara
C
Fleiz
2 Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatria Ramon de la Fuente Muñiz, Mexico.
Diana
D
Fregoso
2 Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatria Ramon de la Fuente Muñiz, Mexico.
Claudia
C
Unikel
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D050177:Overweight / Q000523:psychology; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D015431:Weight Loss; D014892:Weight Perception; D061217:Weight Reduction Programs; D055815:Young Adult
adolescence; body image; disordered eating; socioeconomic factors; weight control; weight perception