Weight-teasing: does body dissatisfaction mediate weight-control behaviors of Brazilian adolescent girls from low-income communities?

• Published in: Cadernos de saúde pública Vol. 34; no. 6; p. e00029817
• Main Authors: Philippi, Sonia Tucunduva, Leme, Ana Carolina Barco
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública Sergio Arouca, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz 21-06-2018; Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescent Behavior - psychology; Body Image - psychology; Body Weight; Brazil; Bullying; Comportamento Alimentar; Comportamento do Adolescente; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diet, Reducing - psychology; Família; Female; Health Behavior; Humans; Influência dos Pares; Pediatric Obesity - prevention & control; Pediatric Obesity - psychology; Peer Group; Personal Satisfaction; Poverty - psychology; PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH; Reference Values; Self Report; Influência dos Pares; Comportamento Alimentar; Conducta del Adolescente; Familia; Feeding Behavior; Family; Adolescent Behavior; Comportamento do Adolescente; Influencia de los Compañeros; Família; Peer Influence; Conducta Alimentaria
• ISSN: 0102-311X; 1678-4464; 1678-4464
• DOI: 10.1590/0102-311X00029817

The objective was to examine the mediation hypothesis of body dissatisfaction and analyze their association with weight-teasing and body satisfaction. A total of 253 girls who attended 10 schools from São Paulo, Brazil, participated in this study. Data collection was carried out through a validated and self-reported questionnaire. Study variables were weight-teasing (independent), body satisfaction (mediation), and weight control behavior (outcome). Effect mediation analyses showed a significance level of 5% (p < 0.05). Prevalence of family and peers weight-teasing were 38.5% and 40.6%, respectively. Body dissatisfaction was associated with unhealthy weight control behaviors when controlled by family and peer weight-teasing. Data indicate that family and peers teasing are important aspects that interfere in body satisfaction and weight control behaviors.