Corporal image and attitude towards food: Study made with young students in Portugal

Abstract

In modern society there is evidence of a great concern with overweight and body image in both genders. We also know that diet is a risk factor for future diseases like anorexia and bulimia.Objectives:Assessing the existence of risk behavior for the development of eating disorders in young people,Methods:Cross study of students attending two schools (semi-urban and rural) and the university. There was registered individual weight and height and implemented questionnaires of food history, relationship with food, body image (BSQ) and the test of attitude towards food (EAT-26).Results:In the samples, there was a predominance of the female population (57%, 68%, 74% in Ceira, Pombal and the University). In samples with less than 18 years, the average weight is situated in the range 50-59 kg and the sample university in the range 60-69Kg. In all samples the height average is located in the range 1.60 m to 1.67 m. The satisfaction with the weight is higher in rural population (74%). It is, paradoxically, in the rural population, with mean age of 18 years who are the largest percentage of change in scales EAT-26 and BSQ (29 and 23%).Conclusions:In all populations are uniform in terms of weight and height, and noted however, that the rural population, with an average of 18 years of age there is a predominance of abnormal behavior food and dissatisfaction with body image.