What is the Relationship among Actual Body Image, Desired Body Image and Body Mass Index in 7-12 Year Old Children?

Abstract

is the Relationship among Actual Body Desired in Abstract Purpose: The aim of this research project was to gain a better understanding of a child’s perception of actual body image and desired body image compared to Body Mass Index (BMI). The study assessed the relationship among actual body image, desired body image, and BMI for the entire sample group and the subgroups of Hispanics and non-Hispanics. Design: A descriptive, correlational study of a convenience sample of children (n=80), ages 7 to 12 years old was conducted. Methodology: Using a standardized clinical protocol, demographic and growth measurement data were collected by trained clinic personnel with children who met project criteria. Clinic personnel obtained consent from parents and children, administered the Collins’ pictogram body images, and determined current school grade, insurance status, and free/reduced lunch program participation. The main research instrument was the two-question pictogram containing Collins’ seven gender specific child body pictogram/ silhouette figures of thin body image to an obese body image. Data were analyzed using Spearman correlation coefficients to assess the relationship between actual body image, desired body image, and BMI. Findings: Among the total sample of 80 children, actual body image and BMI/percentile were significantly correlated (46%) as was actual body image with desired body image (35%). BMIs for overweight and obesity accounted for 40 percent of the entire sample of participants. In the sub-group of ethnicity, actual body image and BMI showed a significant association (rho 42%) in the Hispanic population. Actual body image and BMI had a moderate association (38%) as did actual body image and desire body (42%) image among the non-Hispanic population. Half of the Hispanic participants were either overweight (14%) or in the obese (36%) category. Non- Hispanics had 18% in the overweight category and 14% in the obese category. Conclusion: The findings from this descriptive, correlational study may be useful to clinicians who address the health issues of childhood overweight and obesity with their patients. The correlation of 46 percent between actual and BMI percentile demonstrated a 25 percent R2 showing that 25 percent of actual body image was accounted for by BMI. Actual body image was significant in ideal body image in the entire sample, although to a lesser extent than actual to BMI. Hispanic children were over twice as likely to accurately perceive actual body image compared to non-Hispanic children. Hispanic’s actual body image did influence desired body image. More research is recommended in the use of pictogram in a clinical setting with a larger population.