Weight-teasing: does body dissatisfaction mediate weight-control behaviors of Brazilian adolescent girls from low-income communities?

• Main Authors: Sonia Tucunduva Philippi, Ana Carolina Barco Leme
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz 2018-06-01
• Series: Cadernos de Saúde Pública
• Subjects: Comportamento Alimentar; Comportamento do Adolescente; Influência dos Pares; Família
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0102-311X2018000605001&lng=en&tlng=en

The objective was to examine the mediation hypothesis of body dissatisfaction and analyze their association with weight-teasing and body satisfaction. A total of 253 girls who attended 10 schools from São Paulo, Brazil, participated in this study. Data collection was carried out through a validated and self-reported questionnaire. Study variables were weight-teasing (independent), body satisfaction (mediation), and weight control behavior (outcome). Effect mediation analyses showed a significance level of 5% (p < 0.05). Prevalence of family and peers weight-teasing were 38.5% and 40.6%, respectively. Body dissatisfaction was associated with unhealthy weight control behaviors when controlled by family and peer weight-teasing. Data indicate that family and peers teasing are important aspects that interfere in body satisfaction and weight control behaviors.