title: Body perception and meal type across age and gender on a Mediterranean island (Sardinia).
abstract: Our aim was to describe the differences in consumption of types of meal (complete/incomplete) eaten at lunch and dinner by gender in people of different age groups (children, young adults and seniors). In particular, we wanted to investigate the differences in choice of meal based on perceived weight. The study involved 516 participants, of which 156 were children (8-12y), 187 were young adults (19-30y) and 173 were elderly (65-90y). A cross-sectional analysis was carried out into the choice of meal type based on the different age groups and genders, on the three Body Mass Index categories (under, normal, overweight), on the three levels of self-perception (slim, normal and heavy) and on the degrees of perception of one's body weight (underestimation, accurate estimation, overestimation). The food eaten was grouped into three types of daily meal: (a) incomplete, (b) complete lunch or dinner, (c) always complete. Differences emerged in the type of meal eaten according to age, gender and perceived weight. The results show gender differences in associations with meal type according to the way in which body mass is measured or perceived. The choice of complete/incomplete meal type changes according to whether real weight or perceived weight is considered.
authors.affiliation: a Department of History, Human Sciences and Education , University of Sassari , Sassari , Italy.
authors.forename: Arcangelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uccula
authors.affiliation: a Department of History, Human Sciences and Education , University of Sassari , Sassari , Italy.
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nuvoli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D008521:Mediterranean Islands / Q000208:ethnology; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: BMI; Meal type; eating behavior; life span; weight perception