It is a complete lack of "awareness" of a body image that is nevertheless changing due to the epidemic of overweight and obesity in children, that this large national survey conducted in China, published in the journal Obesity, denounces. Indeed, while the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children almost tripled between 2000 and 2011, rising from 6.5% to 16.8%, only 2% of children have the impression of being "too fat". ". It is therefore ultimately a call for “realism” and the intervention of parents and the professionals concerned.
This analysis of data from 4,605 children aged 6 to 17 at the start of the study thus reveals that:
- at baseline, 49% of children underestimated their weight;
- children considering themselves overweight at the start of the study show a higher increase in body mass index over time than those with a “normal” body image;
- boys, toddlers, and children in rural areas experience greater increases in BMI than their peers;
Raising awareness of "negative" body image in children could provide them with new motivation to opt for a healthy lifestyle, concludes lead author Dr. Jungwon Min of Ball State University (Indiana).
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