Körperbild, Diätverhalten und körperliche Aktivität bei 9-10 jährigen Kindern

The aim of the present study was to investigate body dissatisfaction and eating attitudes and the moderating role of gender, parental influences, body-mass index (BMI), and physical activity in 9 ± 10-year-old children. Sixty-eight 9 ± 10-year-old children (36 boys, 32 girls) were asked to indicate their perceived and ideal body size using the figure drawing scale of Childress et al. (1993). Physical activity levels were assessed with a diary method over 7 consecutive days. Questionnaires were used to collect information on children's eating habits and children's perception of parental weight, parental attitudes towards body size, and eating habits. Children's weight and height were measured and the BMI calculated. 44 % of boys and 34 % of girls wanted to be thinner than they perceived themselves to be. Multiple regression analyses indicated that this desire was predicted by children's BMI, perceived overweight of mother, and eating patterns indicating restraint eating style. Given that only 13 % were overweight, the percentage of children wanting to be thinner is of concern. The current results indicate that there may be an increasing trend for a thinner body ideal in boys compared to previous reports.