Relationships between body size attitudes and body image of 4-year-old boys and girls, and attitudes of their fathers and mothers

Abstract

BackgroundBody size attitudes and body image form early in life, and understanding the factors that may be related to the development of such attitudes is important to design effective body dissatisfaction and disordered eating prevention interventions. This study explored how fathers’ and mothers’ body size attitudes, body dissatisfaction, and dietary restraint are associated with the body size attitudes and body image of their 4-year-old sons and daughters.MethodsParticipants were 279 4-year-old children (46% boys) and their parents. Children were interviewed and parents completed questionnaires assessing their body size attitudes and related behaviours.ResultsSocially prescribed stereotypical body size attitudes were evident in 4-year-old boys and girls; however, prevalence of body dissatisfaction was low in this sample. Correlation analyses revealed that boys’ body size attitudes were associated with a number of paternal body image variables. In boys, attributing negative characteristics to larger figures and positive characteristics to thinner figures were associated with fathers having more negative attitudes towards obese persons. Attributing positive characteristics to larger figures by boys was associated with greater levels of paternal dietary restraint. In girls, attributing positive characteristics to thinner figures was only associated with greater maternal dietary restraint.ConclusionsFindings suggest the possibility that fathers’ body size attitudes may be particularly important in establishing body size attitudes in their sons. Further research is necessary to better understand the role of fathers in the development of children’s body size attitudes.

Percepción del Tamaño Corporal e Insatisfacción en Niños de 3 a 6 Años: Una Revisión Sistemática

“…At these ages, some children want to be bigger and stronger in terms of their weight (Smolak, 2012), as they believe that the word strong is associated with overweight figures (Rich et al, 2008). As a result, they associate thinness with weakness (Cramer & Steinwert, 1998). Males reveal more of a desire to be physically bigger, which perhaps explains why boys are anxious to grow.…”

“…34, nº 1 (january) It was also found that most obese or overweight children do not perceive their weight status correctly (Burgess & Broome, 2012;Cramer & Steinwert, 1998;Tremblay et al, 2011). There are also errors, however, in the identification made by thin children (Cramer & Steinwert, 1998). In terms of gender, boys were more accurate than girls in estimating their body size (Holub, 2008) and, in general terms, children were better at perceiving height than width .…”

“…34, nº 1 (january) It was also found that most obese or overweight children do not perceive their weight status correctly (Burgess & Broome, 2012;Cramer & Steinwert, 1998;Tremblay et al, 2011). There are also errors, however, in the identification made by thin children (Cramer & Steinwert, 1998).…”

“…However, despite the fact that some authors attribute cognitive limitations to body perception problems, others argue that it is due to the inadequate nature of the instruments used (Holub, 2008) and to the internalisation of society's negative attitudes towards obesity (Cramer & Steinwert, 1998).…”

A testképtől a testképzavarig

“…Már a négyéves gyerekek tisztában vannak a megjelenésre vonatkozó társadalmilag elfogadott sztereotípiák-kal, megjelenik a vékony test preferenciája, a testi elége-detlenség és esetenként a tudatos fogyókúra is [12]. Ötéves lányoknál megfigyelhető a negatív testkép, az elhízástól való félelem, sőt sok esetben súlycsökkentő viselkedésformák is társulnak mindezekhez [13].…”