Autopercepção do estado de saúde e imagem corporal entre estudantes universitários

Abstract

To analyze the association between self-perception of health status and body image in university students. Methods: Cross-sectional study, with census sampling, with students, both sexes up to 25 years of age, entering the Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá campus in 2015 and 2016. A self-administered questionnaire was used, obtaining demographic, socioeconomic and lifestyle information, and anthropometric measures of height and weight were measured. Body image was assessed by the Stunkard scale and self-perception of health status was obtained by the question: "Compared to people of your age, how do you rate your health", having 5 choices of response: "Very Good", "Good", "Fair", "Bad" or "Very Poor". Results: Of the 1038 students, 51% of the students were males, 78.8% were 19 years of age, 48.6% were of economic class B, 74.6% lived with their parents or relatives, 27.5 % were in the area of exact sciences and earth and 23.4% were overweight. There was a positive and direct association between the worsening of the perception of health status and increased dissatisfaction with body image among university students (Good: 67.3 vs Regular: 79.2 vs Bad: 88.1%, p <0, 01). Conclusion: There was a significant association between negative self-perception of health and body image dissatisfaction. This association is related to factors such as sex and especially overweight.