(In)satisfação e percepção da imagem corporal e sua relação com o perfil antropométrico de idosas frequentadoras de centro de convivência

Abstract

The increase of the elderly population in Brazil reinforces the importance of the development of research aimed at this public. The objective of this study was to evaluate the (dis)satisfaction and the perception of the body image and its relation with the anthropometric profile of the elderly women. Sociodemographic data were collected and anthropometric and body image evaluations was performed with 60 elderly women aged 60 to 74 years old, attending a companionship center located in Miracema (Rio de Janeiro). Body mass (BM) and height were used to determine the Body Mass Index (BMI). Were also measured the waist circumference (WC) and the calf (CC) circumference. BMI was classified as underweight, normal weight and overweight according to cuts-offs established for the elderly people, while WC and CC were classified according to risk for cardiovascular diseases and decrease of muscle mass, respectively. To evaluate the body image was used a scale composed of 15 silhouettes, constructed and validated for the Brazilian population, through which the perceived and desired silhouettes were obtained. The (dis)satisfaction was analyzed by the difference between the perceived and desired silhouettes and results equal to zero categorized the individual as satisfied, less than zero as dissatisfied due to thinness and greater than zero as dissatisfied due to excess weight. To evaluate the perception of body image, the measured BMI was transformed into a silhouette number (real silhouette) and the difference between the perceived and real silhouettes was obtained. Results equal to zero categorized the individual as not distorted, less than zero as underestimated body size and greater than zero as overestimated body size. Absolute and relative frequencies were calculated for sociodemographic, anthropometric and body image variables. The relationship between the anthropometric variables (exposure) and the (dis)satisfaction and perception scores (outcome variables) were analyzed by correlation coefficient and multiple linear regression models with adjusted values. The frequency of overweight was 65%, 96.7% of the elderly presented adequate CC and 91.6% presented risk for cardiovascular diseases according to WC, including 84.2% of those classified as normal weight. Regarding to (dis)satisfaction, it was observed that 71.7% of the participants were dissatisfied due to excess weight and they presented greater measures of BM, WC, CC and higher BMI than who were dissatisfied due to thinness. Regarding to perception, 68.3% of the participants presented overestimated body size, mostly those overweight. The anthropometric measurements showed an association and correlation with the (dis)satisfaction score, but a similar result was not observed when these measures were associated and correlated with the perception score