Body image dissatisfaction among rural and urban adolescents

To identify the prevalence of body image dissatisfaction among adolescents living in rural and urban areas, and to analyze the influence of demographic and anthropometric variables on body image dissatisfaction. A total of 629 adolescents aged 13 to 17 years from urban and rural areas participated in the study. Demographic variables (gender, age, area of residence), anthropometric measurements (body weight, height, skinfold thickness) and body image data were collected. BMI (underweight: <18,5 kg/m²; normal weight: between 18,5 and 25,0 kg/m²; overweight: > 25 kg/m²) and the sum of two skinfold thicknesses, Σ2SF (girls: low: <16 mm, ideal: between 16 and 36 mm, high: >36 mm; boys: low: <12 mm, ideal: between 12 and 25 mm, high: >25 mm) were then calculated. The prevalence of body image dissatisfaction was similar (p≥0,05) among rural (64,2%) and urban adolescents (62,8%). Boys wished to increase the size of their body silhouette (41,3%), whereas girls wished to reduce it (50,5%) (p<0,001). Adolescents with low and excess weight based on BMI and with high Σ2SF presented a 3,14, 8,45 and 2,08 times higher chance of body image dissatisfaction, respectively. A high prevalence of body image dissatisfaction was observed among adolescents from rural and urban areas. An unhealthy nutritional status and body adiposity increase the chances of body image dissatisfaction. These findings emphasize the social pressure on girls to remain slim and on boys to attain an athletic body

Stages of behavioral change and positive perception of the environment towards physical activity among urban park users

The objectives of this study were to identify the stages of behavioral change (SBC) towards physical activity (PA) among users of urban parks, to determine the association between socio-demographic and economic variables of users of urban parks in relation to physical activity (PA), and to analyze environmental indicators of the park perceived positively for PA. A total of 218 users of an urban park, who filled out a questionnaire regarding socio-demographic data, SBC and perception of the existing environment, participated in the study. The most prevalent SBC were maintenance (56.6%) and action (21.1%). Most park users (78.7%) presented an active behavior (maintenance + action) towards PA, with this behavior being prevalent among middle-aged individuals (p<0.05). The beauty and geographic location of the park, technological and architectonic factors, some normative policies (public services to the users’ disposition), and values and attitudes were perceived positively for PA, regardless of whether the users regularly performed PA or not. The study suggests that most public park users present an active behavior towards PA, especially middle-aged individuals. In addition, the perception of environmental indicators is positive among physically inactive and active park users, irrespective of SBC

Health-related physical fitness in Brazilian adolescents from a small town of German colonization

Objective: To identify the health-related physical fitness profile of Brazilian adolescents (10–17 years) living in a small town of German colonization and to describe the prevalence of those with low levels of physical fitness according to sex and age. Method: This is a school-based cross-sectional epidemiological study conducted with all adolescents (10–17 years) enrolled in five public schools of São Bonifácio, Brazil. The study included 277 adolescents (145 boys and 132 girls). The FITNESSGRAM® test battery was applied for the assessment of percent body fat, flexibility, muscle strength/endurance and cardiorespiratory fitness. Results: Higher mean values of percent body fat and flexibility (p < 0.01) were found in girls; boys showed higher means (p < 0.01) for pull-up and cardiorespiratory fitness tests. The prevalence of adolescents with low levels of physical fitness was high for percent body fat (boys: 29.3%, girls: 31.8%, p = 0.75), flexibility (boys: 26.9%, girls: 54.5%, p < 0.01), muscle strength/endurance (curl-up: 37.9% of boys and 45.5% of girls, p = 0.25; modified pull-up: 47.6% of boys and 54.5% of girls, p = 0.30) and cardiorespiratory fitness (boys: 28.0%, girls: 36.9%, p = 0.15). As for the overall physical fitness, 75.7% of boys and 88.9% of girls did not meet the minimum recommended values (p = 0.01). Conclusion: Effective intervention programs are necessary to promote changes in the health-related physical fitness profile of adolescents from São Bonifácio, Brazil

Nutritional Status Of Schoolchildren In Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil [estado Nutricional De Escolares Em Porto Velho, Rondônia]

Objective: This study aimed to determine the nutritional status of schoolchildren in public schools in Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil, in relation to age, gender and sociodemographic features in a population of low socioeconomic status. Methods: The sample comprised 1,057 schoolchildren of low socioeconomic status of both genders, aging from 7 to 10 years, selected by stratified random sampling by sector and purposeful sampling by group. Sociodemographic data were obtained with a questionnaire. The schoolchildren were classified according to their weight-for-height into malnourished, well nourished and overweight/obese and according to their weight-for-height and height-for-age into well nourished, severely malnourished, chronically malnourished or formerly malnourished. Results: There was no significant difference between males and females for weight and height. In relation to weight-for-height alone, 86.0% were normal, 4.0% were malnourished, 7.0% were overweight and 3.0% were obese. In relation to weight-for-height and height-for-age, 89% were normal, 2.5% were acutely malnourished, 7.0% were formerly malnourished and 1.5% were chronically malnourished. Conclusion: The prevalence of malnutrition or overweight/obesity was low among elementary schoolchildren of low socioeconomic status in public schools of Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil. These data can be compared with data from other Brazilian cities and regions.214401409(1995) Health statistics in the Americas, , Pan-American Health Organization, Washington DC, Scientific Publications;Popkin, B.M., Paeratakul, S., Fengying, Z., Keyou, G., A review of dietary and environmental correlates of obesity with emphasis on developing countries (1995) Obes Res, 3 (SUPPL. 2), pp. 135-143Pinheiro, A.R.O., Freitas, S.F.T., Corso, A.C.T., Uma abordagem epidemiológica da obesidade. (2004) Rev Nutr, 17 (4), pp. 523-533Marcondes, E., (1994) Desenvolvimento da criança, , Rio de Janeiro: Sociedade Brasileira de Pediatria;Barros, A.A., Barros, M.B., Maude, G.H., Ross, D.A., Davies, P.S., Preece, M.A., Evaluation of the nutritional status of 1 st-year school children in Campinas, Brasil (1990) Ann Trop Paediatr, 10 (1), pp. 75-84Batista Filho, M., Saúde e Nutrição (1994) Epidemiologia & Saúde, , Almeida Filho N, Rouquayrol MZ, editores, Rio de Janeiro: Medsi;Vasconcelos, F.A.G., (2000) Avaliação nutricional de coletividades, , Florianópolis: Editora da UFSC;Ferreira, H.S., Albuquerque, M.I.M., Ataíde, T.R., Estado nutricional de crianças menores de dez anos residentes em invasão do "Movimento dos Sem-Terra", Porto Calvo, Alagoas. (1997) Cad Saúde Pública, 13 (1), pp. 137-139Ribas, D.L.B., Philippi, S., Tanaka, A.C., Zorzatto, J.R., Saúde e estado nutricional infantil de uma população da Região Centro-Oeste do Brasil. (1999) Rev Saúde Pública, 33 (4), pp. 358-365Carvalho, A.T., Costa, M.J.C., Ferreira, L.O.C., Batista Filho, M., Cartografia do retardo estatural em escolares do estado da Paraíba, Brasil. (2000) Rev Saúde Pública, 34 (1), pp. 3-8Monteiro, C.A., Conde, W.L., Tendência secular da desnutriçã o e da obesidade na infância na cidade de São Paulo (1974 - 1996). (2000) Rev Saúde Pública, 34 (6), pp. 52-61Leão, L.S.C.S., Araújo, L.M.B., Moraes, L.T.L.P., Assis, A.M., Prevalência de obesidade em escolares de Salvador, Bahia. (2003) Arq Bras Endocrinol Metab, 47 (2), pp. 151-157Silva, G.A.P., Balaban, G., Freitas, M.M.V., Baracho, J.D.S., Nascimento, E.M.M., Prevalência de sobrepeso e obesidade em crianças pré-escolares matriculadas em duas escolas particulares de Recife, Pernambuco (2003) Rev Bras Saúde Mater Infant, 3 (3), pp. 323-327Soar, C., Vasconcelos, F.A.G., Assis, M.A.A., Grosseman, S., Luna, M.E.P., Prevalência de sobrepeso e obesidade em escolares de uma escola pública de Florianópolis, Santa Catarina. Rev Bras Saúde Mater Infant (2004), 4 (4). , 391-7Sotelo, Y.O.M., Colugnati, F.A.B., Taddei, J.A.A.C., Prevalência de sobrepeso e obesidade entre escolares da rede pública segundo três critérios de diagnóstico antropométrico. (2004) Cad Saúde Pública, 20 (1), pp. 233-240Silva, G.A.P., Balaban, G., Motta, M.E.F.A., Prevalência de sobrepeso e obesidade em crianças e adolescentes de diferentes condições socioeconômicas. (2005) Rev Bras Saúde Mater Infant, 5 (1), pp. 53-59Sobal, J., Stunkard, A.J., Socioeconomic status and obesity: A review of the literature (1989) Psychol Bull, 105 (2), pp. 260-275Campos, L.A., Leite, A.J.M., Almeida, P.C., Nível socioeconômico e sua influência sobre a prevalência de sobrepeso e obesidade em escolares do município de Fortaleza. (2006) Rev Nutr, 19 (5), pp. 531-538Ronque, E.R.V., Cyrino, E.S., Dórea, V.R., Serassuelo Júnior, H., Galdi, E.H.G., Arruda, M., Prevalência de sobrepeso e obesidade em escolares de alto nível socioeconômico em Londrina, Paraná, Brasil (2005) Rev Nutr, 18 (6), pp. 709-717Barbetta, P.A., (2003) Estatística aplicada às Ciências Sociais, , Florianópolis: UFSC;Ross WD, Marfell-Jones MJ. Kinanthropometry. In: McDougall JD, Wenger HA, Green HJ, editors. Physiological testing of the elite athlete. 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(2003) Rev Saúde Pública, 37 (2), pp. 226-231Rolland-Cachera, M.F., Bellisle, F., Deheeger, M., Pequignot, F., Sempe, M., Influence of body fat distribution during childhood on body fat distribution in adulthood: A two-decade follow-up-study (1990) Int J Obes, 14 (6), pp. 473-481Gross, R., Stange, M., Solomons, N.W., Olterrsddorf, U., Esquivel, I.R., The influence of economic deterioration in Brazil on the nutritional status of children in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (1987) Ecol Food Nutr, 19 (2), pp. 265-279Victora CG, Barros FC, Vaughan JP. Epidemiologia da desigualdade: um estudo longitudinal de 6.000 crianças brasileiras. São Paulo: Hucitec1988Taddei JAAC. Desvios nutricionais em menores de cinco anos: evidências dos inquéritos antropométricos nacionais [tese de livre-docência]. 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Aerobic fitness in adolescents in southern Brazil: Association with sociodemographic aspects, lifestyle and nutritional status

Objective: The purpose was to investigate the factors related to aerobic fitness levels of adolescents in southern Brazil. Methods: The sample consisted of 1081 students (545 males and 536 females), with mean age of 12.8 (± 1.2) years. This is a cross-sectional epidemiological study. Aerobic fitness was assessed by the 9-min running test. The independent variables analyzed were: age, socioeconomic status, school system (public/private), sedentary behavior, physical activity level, nutritional status and body adiposity. Analyses were stratified by sex. We used the Student “t” test for independent samples and logistic regression to estimate odds ratio (OR) and confidence intervals of 95% (95% CI). Results: The prevalence of low aerobic fitness levels was 92.5%. Boys aged 13–14 years were 2.44 times more likely to have low aerobic fitness levels; poorer boys were 4.31 times more likely to have low aerobic fitness levels. Girls aged 13–14 years were 5.35 times more likely to have low aerobic fitness levels; poorer girls were 10.70 times more likely to have low aerobic fitness levels; girls with sedentary behavior were approximately 4 times more likely to have low aerobic fitness levels. Conclusion: Thus, it was concluded that almost all adolescents show low aerobic fitness levels, which makes necessary effective interventions in the school environment with the promotion of sports and regular practice of physical activity

Anthropometric Profile And Indicators Of Playing Performance In Brazilian Women's Olympic Basketball Teams [parâmetros Antropométricos E Indicadores De Desempenho Em Atletas Da Seleção Brasileira Feminina De Basquetebol]

The aim of the present study was to investigate the correlation between anthropometric parameters (weight, height, body fat, BMI) and performance indicators (playing time, points, rebounds, errors, steals) in female national basketball players. The study was conducted during the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games. Data were analyzed by ANOVA with random effects. Pearson's simple correlation coefficients were also determined. No difference in anthropometric profile or performance indicators was observed between the two national teams (2000 and 2004). There was a significant correlation (r = 0.61, p<0.05) between height and number of rebounds. Free fat mass was also correlated with the number of rebounds performed (r = 0.45, p<0.05). BMI showed moderate correlations with playing time (r = -0.51, p<0.05), points scored (r = -0.50, p<0.05), number of errors (r = 0.53, p<0.05), and number of steals (r = -0.43, p<0.05). A similar pattern of correlation was observed between relative fat mass (%) and performance indicators (playing time: -0.51, points scored: -0.44, errors: 0.50, and steals: 0.51) (p<0.05). The present results indicate a relationship between anthropometric profile and performance indicators. The results also suggest that height and free fat mass influence rebound performance. In addition, it is reasonable to assume that body fat interferes with most of the performance indicators analyzed.1116772Carter, J.E.L., (1984) Physical Structure of Olympic Athletes., , Part II. Kinanthropometry of Olympic Athletes. 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