Maternal body image dissatisfaction and BMI change in school-age children

Abstract

Objective: Parental body image dissatisfaction (BID) is associated with children's weight in cross-sectional studies; however, it is unknown whether BID predicts development of adiposity. The objective of the present study was to investigate the associations between maternal dissatisfaction with her or her child's body and children's BMI trajectories. Design: Longitudinal study. Maternal dissatisfaction (BID) with her and her child's body was calculated based on ratings of Stunkard scales obtained at recruitment, as current minus desired body image. Children's height and weight were measured at baseline and annually for a median of 2·5 years. Mixed-effects models with restricted cubic splines were used to construct sex-and weight-specific BMIfor-age curves according to maternal BID levels. Setting: Public primary schools in Bogotá, Colombia. Subjects: Children (n 1523) aged 5-12 years and their mothers. Results: After multivariable adjustment, heavy boys and thin girls whose mothers desired a thinner child gained an estimated 1·7 kg/m 2 more BMI (P = 0·04) and 2·4 kg/m 2 less BMI (P = 0·004), respectively, between the age 6 and 14 years, than children of mothers without BID. Normal-weight boys whose mothers desired a thinner child's body gained an estimated 1·8 kg/m 2 less BMI than normal-weight boys of mothers without BID (P = 0·02). Maternal BID with herself was positively related to children's BMI gain during follow-up. Conclusions: Maternal BID is associated with child's BMI trajectories in a sex-and weight-specific manner.

Imagem Corporal Na Infância: Uma Revisão Integrativa Da Literatura

“…Table 1 presents a detailed description of the main studies found in this review. 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 The following were highlighted: authors; country; year of publication; method employed; characteristics of the sample; size of the assessed body image; and evaluation instrument used. It should be noted that a sample size varied from 25 to 11,466 children.…”

“…However, one of the main limitations pointed out by the surveys was the use of invalidated collection instruments for the populations of interest. 13 , 14 , 16 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 24 , 31 , 33 , 36 Other limitations were also reported. For example, the cross-sectional design, 13 , 15 , 19 , 24 , 27 , 29 , 30 , 32 , 34 , 35 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 42 , 44 because it precludes causal inferences.…”

“…Studies have indicated that maternal body dissatisfaction was positively related to children’s BMI gain. 21 , 24 Damiano et al 14 showed that attitudes regarding the boys’ body size were associated with paternal body image, whereas in girls the desire for thinner figures was related to a maternal food restriction. In this sense, Michael et al 30 concluded that the eating habits of the mother and the father were associated respectively with the body self-esteem of girls and boys.…”

Maternal dissatisfaction with their children's body size in private schools in the Federal District, Brazil

“…Family is known to hold meaningful influence over their children’s eating habits, and mothers play an important role on educating and selecting foods for their offspring [ 1 – 6 ]. Therefore, the way mothers perceive their child's body and the presence of maternal dissatisfaction with their child's body may affect their attitudes and practices related to the child's dietary intake [ 1 , 4 , 7 – 9 ].…”

“…Evidence shows that maternal dissatisfaction is associated with the child's sex, age, and nutritional status [ 11 – 13 ]. Additionally, maternal characteristics and the way the mother perceives her own body may also influence the way she perceives her child's body [ 4 , 9 , 13 , 14 ].…”