Body Weight Dissatisfaction Is Associated with Cardiovascular Health-Risk Behaviors among Brazilian Adolescents: Findings from a National Survey

Luciane Duarte, Elizabeth Fujimori, Ana Luiza Borges, Aline Kurihayashi, Mary Steen and Alejandra Roman Lay
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Luciane Duarte: Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases Division, Disease Control Coordination, São Paulo State Health Department, São Paulo 01246-000, Brazil
Elizabeth Fujimori: Public Health Nursing Department, School of Nursing, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05403-000, Brazil
Ana Luiza Borges: Public Health Nursing Department, School of Nursing, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05403-000, Brazil
Aline Kurihayashi: Public Health Nursing Department, School of Nursing, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05403-000, Brazil
Mary Steen: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia
Alejandra Roman Lay: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Tarapacá, Arica 1000000, Chile

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 23, 1-13

Abstract: Body weight dissatisfaction (BWD) among adolescents may be a predictor of adoption of health-risk behaviors. The study aimed to assess the gendered association between two forms of BWD (feeling underweight/overweight) and cardiovascular health-risk behaviors among Brazilian adolescents. This cross-sectional study used data from the National Study of Cardiovascular Risks in Adolescents (ERICA) in Brazil, including 71,740 adolescents aged 12–17 years. BWD was defined as satisfied, dissatisfied feeling underweight and dissatisfied feeling overweight. We considered four health-risk behaviors: tobacco use, alcohol use, physical inactivity and skipping breakfast. Assessment of the associations between BWD and these behaviors were undertaken using logistic regression models. All analyses were stratified by gender. Analyses revealed that 14.9% of male adolescents and 14.5% of female adolescents were dissatisfied feeling underweight and 21.5% of males and 39.9% of females were dissatisfied feeling overweight. Among male adolescents, dissatisfied feeling overweight was associated with greater odds of physical inactivity and skipping breakfast. Among female adolescents, dissatisfied feeling underweight and overweight were associated with higher odds of alcohol use and skipping breakfast. These results highlight the importance of BWD and the association with a range of adolescent health behaviors increasing cardiovascular risk over the life course, depending on gender.

Keywords: adolescence; body weight dissatisfaction; body image; alcohol drinking; tobacco use; exercise; breakfast; cardiovascular diseases (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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