Body image perceptions in north Italians from childhood to adulthood

Background: Body image is defined as the perception of one’s own and of the others body size and appearance and the emotional response to this perception (O’Neill et al, 1992). Body image perception involves both anthropometric and psychological factors. The increase in eating disorders and in psychological discomfort of younger subjects from Western societies indicates that body image may be considered an important variable in population screening, especially during the period of growth, characterized by a biological, cognitive and emotional development and physical changes. Aim: A cross-sectional study was undertaken in Emilia-Romagna region (northern Italy) to investigate whether differences exist in body shape concerns among different age groups and sexes. Methods: The present work is part of an auxological study started in 2001 in Bologna and Ferrara cities. The sample consisted of 1252 females and 1192 males aged 8 to 22. They were examined on a cross-sectional study, analysing the body image perception in different growing periods characterized by critical biological and psycho-social events: 8-10 years (childhood, beginning of formation of personal identity), 10-14 years (early adolescence, pubertal development), 17 years (peer influence and access to greater freedom of activity and independence) and 20-22 years (transition to adulthood and achieved maturity). The body image perception was assessed using appropriate Body Silhouette Charts. The degree of dissatisfaction (estimated self figure versus ideal figure) was calculated. This paper includes some basic anthropometric measurements: height and weight. BMI was calculated as weight in kg divided by height in meters squared Results: The results of the analysis demonstrated an age variability and a sexual dimorphism in body image perception. An increasing dissatisfaction was evident in the considered age phases, particularly in female samples. A further analysis on 20-22 years group confirmed the specific areas of concern for young women are waist, hips and stomach; while young men are specifically concerned with upper muscularity and abdomen. Moreover, there is a considerable misunderstanding among women about the kind of build the other gender actually prefers. Women believe that men prefer women with a thinner figure that men actually prefer; while men are more aware of women preferences. The influence of different life-styles on self and ideal figure perceptions was also discussed. Conclusions: The analysis of body image through simple visual instruments, together with anthropometric measurements, allows identifying self-perception disturbances, symptomatic of some pathologies as obesity, anorexia nervosa and bulimia which are increasing in adolescent population. Results obtained from this work point out that the analysis of body image perception represents a valid source of information and could be assessed in studies of Human Biology, varying with age, sex, population, pathologies and socio-cultural environment. Finally, longitudinal data provided in the future would be important to achieve fully these goals.