Abstract

ESCANDON-NAGEL, Neli; VARGAS, José Felipe; HERRERA, Ana Carolina  and  PEREZ, Ana María. Body image based on sex and nutritional status: Association with the construction of self and others. Rev. Mex. de trastor. aliment [online]. 2019, vol.10, n.1, pp.32-41. ISSN 2007-1523.  https://doi.org/10.22201/fesi.20071523e.2019.1.521.

Both distortion and dissatisfaction with body image are crucial in the development of eating disorders. This study analyzes body dissatisfaction (BD) of young adults based on sex and nutritional status, as well as their relation to the construction of the self and others. A total of 73 university students (53% women) aged 18-28 (M = 21.96, SD = 2.04) answered a BD assessment that includes Anatomical Models Sheets, and the construction of the self and the others with the Grid Technique; In addition, the body mass index (BMI) was calculated from self-reported weight and height. Men reported more body distortion vs. women (p = .04), as well as participants with normal weight vs. overweight-obesity (p = .01); conversely, BD was more common in the group with overweight-obesity (p = .03). In women, perceived BMI correlated positively with social isolation, while self-definition “as obese” was associated with BMI and with lower self-esteem; in men, self-definition only correlated with social isolation. Although men had higher body distortion, in women, BD was related to more aspects of their identity.

Keywords : Body image; Body weight; Body perception; Self-concept; Social relationships.

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