Body Image Perception Among Pre-Adolescent Children Participating In A Nutrition And Physical Activity Intervention Program

This study determined body image perception among rural preadolescents and examined the effects of an intervention program on body image discrepancy (BID) scores. Seventy‐six fifth and sixth grade students (36 intervention, 40 control), from five rural South Dakota schools participated in the KidQuest program. Six nutrition lessons with physical activity components were taught within five months. Body mass index (BMI), body image perception, and self‐reported Tanner stages were analyzed. Fifty‐five percent of children at pre‐assessment and 38% at post‐assessment selected a thinner preferred body image than self body image. Although no difference was seen between study groups, the change in BID scores from pre‐ to post‐assessment was significantly different between genders (p=0.05). At pre‐assessment, concordance between self body image and preferred body image was 26% for males and 21% for females and at post‐assessment was 40% for males and 27% for females. There was a significant difference between males (1.81±0.748) and females (2.27±0.830) for pre‐assessment Tanner stages (p=0.014), but no significant difference was found for post‐assessment or the change from pre‐ to post‐assessment. Body image perception was not influenced by the intervention; however, gender was associated with body image perceptions. This should be considered when developing interventions to reduce childhood obesity. Grant Funding Source : USDA NIFA Competitive Grant 2011–67002‐30202 and SD Agricultural Experiment Station HATCH Grant SD00H249–08