"Autopercepción de la imágen corporal comparada con el índice de masa corporal en adolescentes de 15 a 18 años, Cuenca 2009-2010"

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between self-perception of body image measured by the test of silhouettes with nutritional status measured by body mass index in adolescents 15 to 18 years by sex in the city of Cuenca from 2009 to 2010.

METHOD AND MATERIALS: We made a descriptive study in students 4th-6th year of three public schools. Adolescents were surveyed in classrooms and then proceeded to weigh and to heigh each one getting their nutritional status. Variables were used: sex, age, height, weight, BMI, nutritional status, steps to take to get a proper weight for your height and self-perception of body image, that information was processed in Epi Info (TM) 3.4.3, EpiDat 3.1 and Excel 2007.

RESULTS: Of the sample of 497 adolescents, 323 women (65%) and 174 men (35%), 72.8% had a normal nutritional status, 19.9% overweight, 3.4% obesity and 3.4% underweight. 58.8% of adolescents have an adequate perception of body image versus 38.4% that showed distortion, perceived with more weight. In females, the greater the distortion, perceived with more weight in 41.5%, a similar result in males that are 35% more weight misperception.

CONCLUSION: The problem of distortion in the perception of body image is clearly evident in both sexes. It is very important to know the value of distortion in the adolescent population of our country as it could be related to dissatisfaction with physical appearance, low self esteem and eating disorders, hence arises the need for future studies that analyze the causes and effects on distorted self-perception, and these results raise action plans to combat these problems