(In)satisfação corporal, pressões socioculturais em relação à aparência, frequência de consumo alimentar e fatores associados na comunidade acadêmica da Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados (UFGD)

Abstract

This current study aims to analyze body image (dis)satisfaction and the sociocultural pressures on appearance and food consumption and identify the relation between these factors in adults in an academic community. To evaluate the body (dis)satisfaction of the students, professors, and technicians composing the sample, the Brazilian Scale of Body Silhouettes was used, which was validated for Brazil's population and digital use. The Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire-4 SATAQ-4 validated for Brazilian college students was applied for appearance pressures. A questionnaire of alimentary frequency was applied to analyse food consumption, which was later categorized according to the classification NOVA of foods. 290 individuals participated in the research, with an median age of 24,0 years, 69,3% it was females, 78,3% were students, 63,1% considered themselves as white people, and 51,0% didn't have any partners. It was noticeable the prevalence of 84,5% of body image dissatisfaction. Individuals 25 years of age or older were significantly more dissatisfied by being overweight (p < 0,001), the professors composing the category of most dissatisfied by being overweight (p = 0,015). The participants who received an income up until a minimum wage were the most dissatisfied by thinness (p < 0,001); the practice of physical activity wasn't associated with body (dis)satisfaction. The individuals dissatisfied with overweight presented scores more elevated to the internalization: Thin/Low Body Fat (p < 0,001) and as to family pressure (p < 0,001), from friends (p = 0,001), from media (p < 0,001). More frequent consumption of oranges (p = 0,030), green corn (p = 0,036), lentils/chickpeas/peas (p = 0,035) and French bread (p = 0,018) was associated with body satisfaction. Individuals dissatisfied by being overweight are the most affected by the perpetuation of a thin ideal, and that results in ideal internalization, aggravating the dissatisfaction with their image. Body dissatisfaction was associated with sociocultural pressures regarding appearance, the thin ideal internalization and other socioeconomic and demographic factors. Low income was associated with thinness dissatisfaction and not having a partner. Having children, being a teacher and having a workload >40 hours a week were associated with overweight dissatisfaction. From the category of ultra-processed foods, only soft drinks were associated with body dissatisfaction. The present study's findings suggest that internalizing a thin/low body fat ideal is a predictor of dissatisfaction with being overweight, and internalizing the muscular/athletic ideal can be a predictor of dissatisfaction with thinness. For future studies, it's recommended to investigate further the effects of internalization of muscularity ideals on the population's body image.