Relación entre la percepción afectiva de la imagen corporal y el IMC en niños y adolescentes de Bogotá, Colombia: Estudio Fuprecol.

Descripción de la percepción afectiva de la imagen corporal y su relación con el estado nutricional definido por indice de masa corporal IMC,en un grupo de niños,niñas y adolescentes escolares de Bogotá, Colombia.Abstract: Objective: to describe the relationship between affective body image perception and body mass index (BMI) in a group of school children and adolescents from Bogotá, Colombia, from the FUPRECOL studyMethods: This is a cross-sectional study involving 8, 802 children and adolescents between 9 and 17 years old from 24 public education institutions in Bogotá. A self-administered questionnaire regarding affective body image perception (feelings/attitudes) was applied as a sub-scale from the Body Investment Scale (BIS). Body weight and height were measured and BMI was calculated. Prevalence was estimated and chi square test was applied to analyze categorical variables and two-way ANOVA for continuous variables. Results: The sample comprised 4, 388 schoolchildren, being 53. 9% women. Females displayed higher overweight and obesity values (26. 3% vs 17%) than males; 31. 8% of children and adolescents were underweight. Complete disagreement with physical appearance was reported by 12% of women and 13% of men. The childhood subgroup reported a greater percentage of dissatisfaction with physical appearance compared to that of adolescents (14. 7% vs 10. 7%). Regarding BMI and perceived body image, women had higher scores of frustration, hatred and despise towards their physical appearance. Likewise, women with obesity reported lower scores of satisfaction, comfort and liking towards their physical appearance compared to obese men. Conclusions: Assessment of the relationship between affective body image perception and BMI could play an important role in future public nutrition programs, due to the fact that they provide evidence of dissatisfaction and behavior alterations regarding physical and mental health in children and adolescents