Relationship of social physique anxiety to indicators of physique

Body image and weight management among Hispanic American adolescents: Differences by sport type

BACKGROUND

Adolescents' body image concerns vary by sex, ages, and participation in different types of sports. Little is known about variability of body image and weight management behaviors by sport type in Hispanic American adolescents. This study examined whether body image distortion and dissatisfaction are associated with weight management behaviors by sex and sport type in Hispanic adolescents.

METHODS

A sample of 728 Hispanic participants from the United States (61.6% female, Mage = 12.36 ± 2.35) completed the Stunkard Figural Stimuli, reported weight management behaviors and sport participation. Sports were classified as non-aesthetic (such as soccer), aesthetic (such as cheerleading), or non-sport participation. Separate multiple linear regression and multinomial logistic regression models were conducted to test adjusted associations between body image dissatisfaction and distortion, and sport type with weight management behaviors.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Participants in non-aesthetic sports (51.2% male) were more dissatisfied with their body image (want to be bigger; B = -0.17; p = .01) and were 1.5 times more likely to use exercise to lose weight than non-sport participants. Greater body image dissatisfaction increased the likelihood of weight management behaviors. As year in school increased, participants perceived themselves as smaller than their actual BMI and wanted to be smaller. Hispanic females exhibited similar trends to other ethnicities. However, Hispanic males may have interpreted a desire to be "smaller" as a more lean, muscular physique. Subsequent studies should focus on reasons for weight management, and whether those behaviors are healthy.

Maturity-related differences in physical activity among 10- to 12-year-old girls

Besides environmental and psycho-social factors explaining the variation in physical activity levels during adolescence, some evidence suggests that biological processes are involved in regulating habitual daily physical activity and energy expenditure. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of biological maturity status on physical activity. Chronological age, standing height, sitting height, and body mass were measured cross-sectionally in 268 girls, aged 9.5 to 11.5 years. Biological maturity groups (Early, Average, Late) were created according to estimated age at peak-height-velocity (estAPHV). Habitual physical activity was determined with a pedometer (Yamax Digiwalker SW-200) over a 7-day period. Differences in steps/day across maturity groups were examined by ANCOVA, controlling separately for time the pedometer was worn, leg length, and body mass. Mean pedometer steps/day was 10,822 +/- 2,639. As expected, body size varied by maturity status (e.g., early > average > late). Significant maturity group differences were found with early maturing girls showing lower activity levels compared to average or late maturers. These differences remained after controlling for time the pedometer was worn and leg length; however, the differences were no longer significant when controlling for body mass. The results suggest that biological maturity status influences physical activity levels in girls between 10 and 12 years of age but the relationship is not independent of body mass. Further research is needed to establish the complex inter-relationships among adiposity, biological maturation, and energy expenditure during puberty.