Percepção corporal e perfil antropométrico de estudantes do curso de nutrição: um estudo de coorte prospectivo

Abstract

To investigate the evolution of anthropometric profile and perception of body image of students during the graduation. Methods: The students enrolled in the first semester of 2015 of the Nutrition course of the Federal University of Pampa were evaluated for a period of three years. The instruments of evaluation were the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ), to measure concerns about body shape and self-depreciation due to physical appearance; Silhouettes scale, to verify satisfaction with body image; in addition to measurement of anthropometric measures; collection of socioeconomic data and survey of clinical and nutritional history. Results: Twenty-two students participated in the study, most of them single (72.7%), and living with relatives (89.5%) and presenting mean age of 25.3 ± 9.4 years at baseline. Regarding the anthropometric characteristics, there was a significant increase in body weight, with an association of overweight to students over 25 years of age. The mean BSQ score was 81.6 ± 28.2 points, with a significant increase in satisfaction throughout the study. It was observed that satisfaction with the current physical shape, evaluated through the silhouettes scale, evolved positively, with an initial percentage of 9.1%, increasing to 14.3% in 2016 and 18.2% in the last year of the study. Conclusion: Although a significant increase in overweight was observed, the perception of body image evolved positively throughout the graduation. This fact allows to infer that to study Nutrition possibly presented positive effects on the students' body perception.