Relationships between weight status, body image and self-efficacy in adolescents aged 13/15 years old from Bologna

Aim: The prevalence of weight status disorders and body dissatisfaction is continually increasing in adolescents from European countries. Overweight and obesity affect the physical self perception of children entering adolescence, especially girls. In Western cultures, where the idealised female physique is ultra thin, body dissatisfaction tends to be proportional to one’s body size. The mediating role of perceived competence on physical activity is an other important causal mechanism partially responsible for physical inactivity and obesity. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between weight status, body dissatisfaction and physical self efficacy, in Italian adolescents. Method: The sample consists of 151 subjects (78 M and 73 F) attending second grade school in the city of Bologna, aged 13/15 years old. The main anthropometric analysis concerned weight status and body dissatisfaction index. Physical self perception has been valuated through a Self Efficacy Questionnaire. Results: The percentage of overweight and obese subjects was higher in males (M = 30.6 %; F = 26.0 %); on the contrary females presented a higher percentage of underweight (F = 4.1 %; M = 0 %). The body dissatisfaction index showed, in both genders, the desire to be thinner, with higher mean values of dissatisfaction in females [F = 0.7 (sd = 1.5); M = 0.5 (sd = 1.2)] the mean value of self efficacy was higher in males [8.6 (sd = 1.7)] than in females [7.3 (sd = 1.7)]. Self perception of physical skills was negatively related [p\0.05 (r = -0.3)] with weight status: overweight and obese subjects perceived themselves as less physically skilled than normal weight and underweight counterparts, in both genders. Self efficacy was also negatively related [p\0.05 (r = -0.3)] to body dissatisfaction, in both genders. Conclusion: In summary, males show a lower body dissatisfaction and a higher physical self efficacy. The relationships between weight status, body dissatisfaction and self efficacy are relevant and emphasize the influence of body size and body image on self perception of physical skills. References Sanchez Cruz et al (2013) Prevalence of child and youth obesity in Spain in 2012. Revista Espanola de Cardiologia. doi:10.1016/j.recesp.2012.10.016 Morano et al (2011) Body image, perceived and actual physical abilities in normal-weight and overweight boys involved in individual and team sports. J Sport Sci 29(4):355–362 Collins ME (1991) Body figure perceptions and preferences among preadolescent children. Int J Eat Disord 10:199–208 Cole et al (2000) Establishing a standard definition for child overweight and obesity worldwide: international survey. Br Med J 320:1240–1243 Cole et al (2007) Body mass index to define thinness in children and adolescents: international survey. Br Med J 335:194–198