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

Provocações em relação ao peso corporal: a insatisfação com o próprio corpo afeta o comportamento de controle de peso de adolescentes brasileiras de comunidades de baixa renda?

Burlas y acoso por el peso: ¿la insatisfacción corporal afecta al comportamiento para el control del peso en adolescentes brasileñas dentro de comunidades con baja renta?

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.

Keywords:
Feeding Behavior; Adolescent Behavior; Peer Influence; Family