The impact of obesity on the perception of self-concept in children and adolescents

The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of overweight and obesity on the perception of self-concept in children and adolescents. A total of 785 schoolchildren, 410 girls (11.44 + or - 1.84 years), participated in the study. The sample was divided into normal weight, overweight and obese groups according to the BMI criteria proposed by Cole et al. (2000). Socioeconomic status (SES) was evaluated according to the ABEP (2010) and self-concept was rated using the Piers-Harris 2 Scale. The results showed that for the overall self-concept variable the overweight and obese groups were within the average recommended by the instrument; however, the lowest scores were observed in obese boys and girls. On the basis of specific predictors (BMI, age, SES and skin color), obese boys were significantly more likely to present imbalance in the Behavioral Adjustment and Freedom From Anxiety domains (2.6 and 3.1 times, respectively) than the normal weight group, irrespective of age, SES and skin color. For girls, the obese group was 2.0 to 2.7 times more likely to present imbalance in the TOT and Intellectual Status, Popularity and Happiness domains than the normal weight group, irrespective of age, SES and skin color. The results demonstrated a negative impact of overweight and obesity on the perception of overall self-concept and its domains.Original Abstract: O objetivo do presente estudo foi investigar se criancas e/ou adolescentes com excesso de peso apresentam uma percepcao negativa do seu autoconceito. Participaram do estudo 785 escolares, 410 meninas (11,44+ or -1,84 anos). A distribuicao da amostra nos grupos peso normal, sobrepeso e obesidade foi realizada pelo criterio de IMC proposto por Cole et al. (2000), as caracteristicas socioeconomicas, ABEP (2010) e o autoconceito inventario Piers-Harris 2. Os resultados demonstram que para variavel autoconceito total, ambos os grupos estao dentro da media preconizada pelo inventario, porem os menores valores observados para esta variavel estao localizados no grupo obeso em ambos os sexos. A partir de previsores especificos, IMC, idade, os meninos obesos apresentaram um efeito significativo de 2,6 vezes mais chances em apresentar desequilibrio na variavel ajuste de comportamento e 3,1 vezes mais chance para a variavel livre de ansiedade, significativamente comparados ao grupo com peso normal, independente da idade, NSE e cor da pele. Para as meninas, o grupo obeso apresentou entre 2,0 e 2,7 vezes mais cha