Body Image Dissatisfaction Among Gym-Goers in Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: During decades of epidemiological investigation, a consensus was reached regarding physical activity and its association with benefits for the health of the population, including a reduced risk for coronary diseases, hypertension, obesity, osteoporosis and depression. Such associations led to the promotion of an active life style to be included in guidelines and governmental programs and absorbed by the fitness and supplement industries, often displaying different interests although there is growing evidence of an increase in body dissatisfaction. Objective: To evaluate body dissatisfaction among gym-goers and its relationship with age, sex, participation in gym activities and nutritional status. Methods: Participants were 227 users of 3 fitness academies with an average age of 31.4 (12.3) years; 51.5% of the participants were men. Collected data were related to anthropometry and fitness activity participation, and a body image scale was applied. Results: Body image dissatisfaction was found in 67.4% of the sample, of which 64.8% expressed a desire to be slimmer. Such dissatisfaction was also present in those of normal weight, of whom 11.5% were male and 9.2% female. For women of average weight, the odds of dissatisfaction were estimated to be 0.20-fold greater than for men (p<10-6). Discussion: Fitness academies in Brazil and several other parts of the world, with an approach based on the fitness model that emphasizes the cult of the body beautiful, are likely to attract a male audience more inclined to experience body dissatisfaction. Constant monitoring of nutritional care is recommended for these individuals, in order to prevent exaggerated body dissatisfaction patterns Conclusions: Body image dissatisfaction was greater among female athletes who wished to achieve a slimmer look. Due to the large number of eutrophic gym-goers with body image dissatisfaction, campaigns for adequate body weight maintenance are recommended. These would take the emphasis off the adoption of body types with low fat percentages and risky behaviors like diets and food restriction, which trigger eating disorders. Level of Evidence I; Diagnostic studies - Investigating a diagnostic test.

Amateur ballet practicing, body image and eating behaviors: a comparative study of classical ballet dancers, gym users and sedentary women

“…This time and type of practice was used as it possibly represented the regular practice of physical exercise in local gyms, with no competitive or professional reasons. Our population presented a mean of 4.2 h of training per week, similar to the sample described by Rossi and Tirapegui [ 4 ] in a population of female Brazilian gym users. Sedentary women were those who declared to be healthy, and that did not practice any routine physical exercises.…”

“…These body characteristics may put ballet dancers under pressure to maintain the desired body shape and can possibly affect body image (BI) [ 3 ]. BI refers to thoughts and feelings about the size, contour and shape of the body [ 4 ]. Distortion, dissatisfaction, and concern with BI, and also eating behaviors are triggering factors for the development of eating disorders (ED) [ 5 ], a group of mental illnesses characterized by abnormal eating habits [ 6 ].…”

Insatisfação com a imagem corporal em adultos e fatores associados

“…Por meio de uma análise, identificou-se a existência de grandes percentuais de adultos insatisfeitos com sua IC, sendo que esta insatisfação é predominante em mulheres, além disso, também foi verificado que muitas das variáveis se interrelacionam (Almeida & Bapstista, 2016;Florêncio et al, 2016;Castro et al, 2017;Segheto et al, 2018;Rossi & Tirapegui, 2018;Kessler & Poll, 2018;Cardoso et al, Albuquerque et al, 2019;Santos et al, 2021). No entanto, em nenhum dos artigos analisados, encontrou-se algum estudo sobre a relação entre a insatisfação destes adultos acerca da IC com possíveis traumas que possam ter vivenciado em algum momento de suas vidas.…”

“…Segundo Albuquerque et al (2019), a IC é afetada por muitas variáveis, tais como os fatores midiáticos, a autoestima, o estado emocional, a sociedade e a cultura em que os indivíduos estão inseridos, os pensamentos creditados durante a história da humanidade, bem como os padrões e estereótipos de beleza que estes propagaram durante o decorrer dos séculos e que hoje se fazem enraizados em nossa sociedade. Estes fatores, que detêm influência na percepção corporal das pessoas, são os mesmos que contribuirão para que desenvolvam sinais de baixa autoestima, depressão, ansiedade, exageros na prática de exercícios e severas dietas com a finalidade de conquistarem um estereótipo imaginário de um corpo perfeito (Rossi & Tirapegui, 2018).…”

Análise da imagem corporal aliada a alimentação e à prática de musculação / Analysis of body image combined with food and bodybuilding

“…Grande parte da população busca a prática regular de atividades físicas e, em especial a musculação visando o controle do peso e a melhoria da imagem corporal (RESENDE et al, 2019;ROSSI. TIRAPEGUI, 2018).…”