Factors Associated with Body Size Perception and Body Image (Dis)Satisfaction in the Elderly: Results of the ELSA-Brasil Study

Maria de Jesus Mendes da Fonseca, Isiyara Taverna Pimenta, Liliane da Silva Albuquerque, Estela M. L. Aquino, Letícia de Oliveira Cardoso, Dóra Chor and Rosane Harter Griep
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Maria de Jesus Mendes da Fonseca: National School of Public Health, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21041-210, Brazil
Isiyara Taverna Pimenta: National School of Public Health, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21041-210, Brazil
Liliane da Silva Albuquerque: Secretary of Education, Rio de Janeiro State Government, Rio de Janeiro 20220-800, Brazil
Estela M. L. Aquino: Institute of Collective Health, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador 40110-040, Brazil
Letícia de Oliveira Cardoso: National School of Public Health, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21041-210, Brazil
Dóra Chor: National School of Public Health, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21041-210, Brazil
Rosane Harter Griep: Laboratory of Health and Environment Education, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 18, 1-15

Abstract: The study aimed to assess the association between body image perception and (dis)satisfaction and sociodemographic and behavioral factors in the elderly, using multinomial logistic regression. Data were analyzed for 1686 women and 1499 men participating in the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil). Men with less schooling and women with lower per capita income showed higher odds of underestimating their body size. Former smokers of both sexes showed higher odds of overestimating their body size; lower schooling and lower per capita income decreased these odds. Increasing age, lower per capita income, and smoking increased the odds of dissatisfaction due to thinness in men, and married marital status decreased these odds. In women, low per capita income, weekly consumption of vegetables, and smoking increased the odds of such dissatisfaction. Factors that increased the odds of dissatisfaction due to excess weight in both sexes were primary or secondary schooling and former smoking. In women, low per capita income, weak physical activity, weekly consumption of vegetables, and excessive alcohol intake also increased the odds of such dissatisfaction. The results suggest that improved living conditions and the adoption of healthy behaviors can help reduce misperceived negative body image among elderly.

Keywords: body image dissatisfaction; body size perception; sociodemographic factors; behavior factors; aging process (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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