ABSTRACT
Objective
To evaluate parenting practices of weight and diet and their relationship with body image dissatisfaction in adolescents.
Methods
Data analysis refers to baseline data of a randomized clinical trial previously conducted with 270 female adolescents from public schools in São Paulo, who participated in the New Moves Brazil Program during 2014 and 2015. Anthropometric data, economic level, body dissatisfaction with body image, self-esteem, and parental practices of weight and diet from adolescents’ perspective were collected. A multiple logistic regression model was conducted to evaluate the influence of the variables on the dissatisfaction with body image of adolescents.
Results
Adolescents who were overweight, had medium/low self-esteem, suffered from weight teasing, and ate less family meals were associated with body image dissatisfaction. In the regression analysis, only comments about daughter’s weight were considered as a risk factor that ceases to exist when both parents live with their daughters. Regarding influence of father, in a family coexistence model, he can be both a positive model, in the influence of healthy choices, and a negative one in teasing about weight and encouraging dieting.
Conclusions
Parental practices related to weight and diet are considered as risk factor for the development of dissatisfaction with body image, and can consequently predispose to weight-related problems.
Parenting practice; obesity; eating disorders; adolescents; body image