Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Body Image in Adolescents from Urban Communities in Ecuador

Phillips, Claire E
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7796-5626
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou153485684485791

Abstract Details

2018, Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, Food and Nutrition Sciences (Health Sciences and Professions).
Adolescence is a period when individuals become increasingly preoccupied with physical appearance and vulnerable to outside influences in developing their body image. Ecuador is a country in transition with areas ranging from resource-limited to developing. This transition influences body image as well as obesity risk. Data are limited on obesity and body image trends among Ecuadorian adolescents and on lifestyle factors that contribute to their development. The long-term project that spawned this thesis study was to develop a partnership between Ohio University and Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Ecuador; the goal being to study obesity and diabetes and to develop effective prevention programs appropriate for the adolescent Ecuadorian population. The regions chosen for this study represented two urban communities that differ in their extent of globalization. A team of investigators collected data on current obesity trends, incidence of related chronic disease, and the lifestyle and sociological factors that contributed to obesity in urban groups of Ecuadorian adolescents. This thesis employed a subset of the data collected for the project, specifically assessing body image in the adolescents using the School Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey (SPAN), comparing body image to anthropometric measures of body weight status (age and sex-specific International Obesity TaskForce or IOTF weight categories), and evaluating reported intention related to weight management strategies (lose weight, gain weight, stay the same, nothing) to establish a foundation for specific target areas for future interventions. Results showed a greater proportion of the population was underweight (27.2%) and less was overweight (12.1%) than might be expected. A larger fraction of the overweight population was from the South (60.78%) while the underweight was predominantly in the North (54.8%). Almost half the population reported an intention to lose weight (45.9%) despite the majority of subjects being underweight or of healthy weight (88.8%). IOTF classification and waist circumference were significant predictors of perceived body image and body image dissatisfaction. There was no statistically significant relationship between intention to lose weight and body dissatisfaction. Overall, these data suggest that Ecuadorian adolescents experience pressure to be an ideal body size regardless of their actual body size as compared to and suggested by IOTF. And that intention to lose weight is pervasive regardless of body size or body image.
Darlene Berryman (Committee Chair)
Cheryl Howe (Committee Member)
Elizabeth Beverly (Committee Member)
124 p.
Health
adolescents; body image; Ecuador; SPAN; South America

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Phillips, C. E. (2018). Body Image in Adolescents from Urban Communities in Ecuador [Master's thesis, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou153485684485791

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Phillips, Claire. Body Image in Adolescents from Urban Communities in Ecuador. 2018. Ohio University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou153485684485791.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Phillips, Claire. "Body Image in Adolescents from Urban Communities in Ecuador." Master's thesis, Ohio University, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou153485684485791

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ohiou153485684485791
1,883
© 2018, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.