Insatisfação com a imagem corporal, autoestima e estado nutricional de bailarinas adolescentes

Abstract

Adolescent ballerinas have high energy and physical demands due to their rehearsal and class routines. However, the idealization of a thin body can lead to dysfunctional eating behaviors resulting from body dissatisfaction, which may negatively impact psychological and nutritional aspects. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of body image dissatisfaction and its correlation with anthropometric variables among adolescent ballerinas from a ballet school in Cuiabá – MT. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 26 adolescent ballerinas from a private ballet school. Data collected included sociodemographic information, anthropometric measurements such as weight, height, abdominal, hip, and arm circumferences, subscapular and triceps skinfold thickness, and responses to body image dissatisfaction and self-esteem questionnaires. Data on weekly exercise duration were also collected. Statistical analyses were performed using Bioestat version 5.3, with significance set at p<0.05. Results: The average age of the ballerinas was 13.6±0.6 years. The median weekly ballet training time was 4.75 hours (minimum 2, maximum 12), and total exercise time was 6.5 hours (minimum 2, maximum 18). According to body mass index (BMI), 80.8% of the ballerinas were classified as having normal weight, 15.4% as overweight, and 3.8% as obese. The body fat percentage (%BF) was adequate in 46.1%, with the remainder showing excess body fat. Regarding arm muscle circumference (AMC), 7.7% of the ballerinas had low muscle reserves. BMI was positively correlated with abdominal, hip, and arm circumferences, %BF, and AMC, with all analyses showing p<0.05. The prevalence of body image dissatisfaction was 65.3% and was inversely correlated with self-esteem but did not correlate with physical exercise or anthropometric variables. Higher BMI values were associated with greater body dissatisfaction. Conclusion: The prevalence of body image dissatisfaction was 65.3%. Even though most ballerinas were classified as having normal weight by BMI, more than half showed excess body fat percentage.