Exploring Body Image and Body Mass Index of Male and Female Special Olympics Athletes

2013 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justine J. Reel ◽  
Robert A. Bucciere ◽  
Sonya SooHoo

Individuals with intellectual disabilities are largely marginalized within society and are understudied as a group (Reel & Bucciere, 2011). Although there have been numerous body image studies with able-bodied athletes, this study represents the first attempt to explore body image of male and female Special Olympics athletes. Athletes (N = 103) were 18–61 years of age (M = 33.34; SD = 11.20) and represented mild to moderate severity for diagnosable intellectual disabilities. Height and weight were measured to determine body mass index (BMI). Body image was verbally assessed via individual interviews using the Figure Ratings Scale and open-ended items. Female athletes had a significantly higher BMI (M = 33.02, SD = 9.28) than male athletes (M = 28.24, SD = 7.38). The BMI means for the female and male athletes met the classifications for obese and overweight, respectively. There was also a negative relationship between body satisfaction and BMI in the overall sample (r = -.46), male athletes only (r = -.51), and female athletes only (r = -.38, indicating that higher BMI was associated with lower body satisfaction. Descriptive statistics revealed that 51% of female athletes and 37% of male athletes desired a thinner physique, whereas 20% of female athletes and 29.6% of male athletes wanted to be larger. There were no significant gender differences in levels of overall body dissatisfaction in this study.

Author(s):  
Futoon S. Alobiri ◽  
Roaa A. Alharbi ◽  
Mohammed R. Algethami ◽  
Raghdah H. Ateeq ◽  
Aseel M. Badurayq ◽  
...  

Aim: Identify the relation between poor esteem for body image and weight-related behaviors. The results will help increase awareness and improve students’ lifestyles to have a better body image and achieve ideal body weight. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among King Abdulaziz University medical students (n= 460) between July to the end of August 2019. Data was collected using the International physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ), figure rating scale (FRS) and analyzed using SPSS software. Result: The results showed that the average Body Mass Index (BMI) was 24.80 ± 11.89. Participant sex was an important factor influencing the prevalence of obesity; male students were more obese than female students with a significant difference (p<0.001). The level of body satisfaction was also affected by gender. Students in preclinical years were more likely to gain weight more than clinical years students. Conclusion: The results show a significant relationship between body satisfaction and gender (P<0.0001) despite having diverse BMIs. Overweight and obese males and females' participants had the lowest body satisfaction. Females who were too thin and had low BMIs described themselves as normal, while males describe themselves as too thin. Conversely, females with high BMIs described themselves as too fat, while males described themselves as normal. This could be due to different factors. Also, underweight females and males have high body satisfaction, which can lead to dangerous behaviors to maintain low body weight which cause negative health consequences.


2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 33-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emriye H. Yayan ◽  
Ayda Çelebioğlu

Aim: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of an obesogenic environment and social support for health behaviours on body mass index and body image in adolescents. Methods: This methodological and descriptive study was conducted in a city centre in Turkey. Interviews were made with the Provincial Directorate for National Education, and the schools in the city centre were divided into three regions according to socioeconomic levels; three schools were then determined among the regions by drawing lots. The data collection was performed with 270 students randomly selected from the three schools. A student information form, an obesogenic environment evaluation form, body cathexis scale, body mass index (BMI) and the Child and Adolescent Social Support Scale for Healthy Behaviours were used to collect data. Percentage distributions, correlations, chi-square tests, analyses of variance and independent samples t-tests were used in the data analysis. Results: According to the data acquired, 10.7% of adolescents in the study group were overweight and 3.0% were obese. There was a positive relationship between the obesogenic environment and BMI, and as the obesogenic environmental features of adolescents increased, the BMI increased, and the body image scores decreased. As social support for the adolescents’ health behaviours increased from their mothers, fathers, teachers, classmates, and close friends, BMI decreased and they were more likely to be satisfied satisfied with their bodies. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that, while an obesogenic environment contributed to increased BMI in adolescents and decreased their body satisfaction, social support given for health behaviours had a positive effect on BMI and body perception.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 01-07
Author(s):  
Claire Mills ◽  
Aimee Watson

Introduction: The pressures of body image can be considered as demoralising, especially within the female sporting environment, where female athletes often express the greatest number of negative thoughts and feelings towards their own body shape, appearance, and dissatisfaction. Research surrounding body image, body composition and body mass index (BMI) has shown that when participants use visual impressions, for perceived body image (PBI) they have failed to produce realistic images and often lacked body stimuli with realistic weight manipulations (Madrigal, 2000). To portray more realistic statistically probable weight manipulations of a personalised stimuli, a 3D Avatar can be used to establish how female athletes perceive their body image. Therefore, the main objective of this investigation is to determine the correlation between actual and perceived BMI using a 3D Avatar within female athletes. Method:n =18 female participants between the ages of 18–23 years of age and competing in football and rugby at club and university level were recruited. Stretched stature (m) and body mass (kg) were taken and values used to calculate actual (kg/m²) and perceived BMI. A computer generated (Unity Player) 3D Avatar, with a visual slide from an underweight to average to obese continuum, was used to assess participants perceived BMI. P value was set at < 0.05 and a Paired Student t-Test was used to test for the difference. A Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient was then used to test the strength of the correlation between the actual and perceived BMI. Results: Actual BMI ranged from 19.5 - 36.9 (x̄ 25.1 ± 4.7), whereas the perceived BMI ranged from 23.2 - 30.8 (x̄ 26.7 ± 2.6). A Paired Student t–test set at P < 0.05 suggested a significant difference between actual and perceived BMI (P = 0.023), and a Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient test confirmed a strong correlation of r = 0.875. Conclusion: Results indicated that perceived BMI was higher than the participants actual BMI and suggested that female athletes competing in football and rugby have a large amount of body dissatisfaction.


2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Claudia Pinheiro ◽  
Sebastião Votre

O objetivo do presente estudo foi analisar a relação entre imagem corporal e grau de satisfação e insatisfação com a mesma tendo em consideração as variáveis morfológicas sexo e índice de massa corporal. Foram entrevistados 12 adolescentes (6 rapazes e 6 garotas) divididos em 3 categorias de acordo com o seu IMC. Verificamos que alguns dos nossos entrevistados consideraram estar longe do modelo de corpo ideal, mas afirmaram gostar dos seus corpos por habituação ou conformismo. Três dos entrevistados com excesso de peso mostraram-se insatisfeitos com o peso que possuem e afirmaram desejar ser mais magros. The aim of this study was to analyze the relation between body image and levels of body satisfaction and dissatisfaction taking into account sex and body mass index. 12 children (6 boys and 6 girls) divided into 3 categories according to their BMI were interviewed. We found that some of our respondents considered to be away from the model of the ideal body but claimed to like their bodies for habituation or conformism. 3 of our interviewees with excessive weight were dissatisfied with their body weight and would like to be thinner. El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar la relación de la imagen corporal y la satisfacción y la insatisfacción corporal considerando el índice de masa corporal y los sexos. Entrevistamos a 12 niños (6 niños y 6 niñas) divididos en 3 categorías según su índice de masa corporal. Encontramos que algunos de nuestros encuestados consideran estar lejos del modelo del cuerpo ideal, pero afirmaron gustar de sus cuerpos por habituación o conformismo. 3 de nuestros entrevistados con exceso de peso no estaban satisfechos con su peso corporal y les gustaría ser más delgados.


Author(s):  
Jonathan E. Handelzalts ◽  
Yael Ben-Artzy-Cohen

The Draw-A-Person (DAP) test has been the center of a long-lasting debate regarding its validity. This study investigated the DAP indices of height, width (size), and inclusion/omission of details and their relation to body image as measured by a self-report scale (Gray’s body image scale) and manifested by the diet behaviors and body mass index of 55 healthy female students. Although the drawings of the diet group were smaller, there was no significant relationship between figure size and diet behaviors. However, body image as measured by a self-report scale did result in significant differences between groups. Moreover, there was a significant correlation between the size of the figure drawn and body image as measured by a self-report scale (larger figures correlated with better body image). No significant results were found for the omission/inclusion indices of the DAP. These results are discussed in light of previous findings regarding the DAP.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 2341
Author(s):  
Gabriel González-Valero ◽  
Josep Vidal-Conti ◽  
Félix Zurita-Ortega ◽  
Pere Palou-Sampol

Current research shows that individuals with intellectual disabilities do not engage in enough physical activity to acquire health benefits. However, cooperative learning has been shown to be an effective tool for inclusion and for improving healthy physical habits. The aim of this study is to contrast an explanatory model which incorporates quality of life, active time in cooperative activities, body mass index and age, as well as to analyze, using multi-group structural equations, the existing associations according to the sex of subjects with intellectual disabilities. The convenience sampling used allowed the collection of data from a total of 156 subjects in Granada (Spain), aged between 18–55 years. In terms of gender, the sample was homogeneous, representing 52.6% (n = 82) for women and 47.4% (n = 74) for men. The active time during the cooperative learning was recorded with the Xiaomi Mi Band 2 activity band, for the quality of life scale (GENCAT) was used, and the body mass index was calculated through its standardized equation. Age was directly associated with body mass index in both sexes. Likewise, age was positively related to the active time of women. Quality of life was directly associated with active time and body mass index was inversely related to active time. This study shows the importance of active time during work and cooperative learning in individuals with intellectual disabilities, as it is associated with an improvement in the quality of life and a reduction in the problems of sedentarism, overweight, and obesity.


2013 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 373-386 ◽  
Author(s):  
John T. Foley ◽  
Meghann Lloyd ◽  
Viviene A. Temple

This study examined temporal trends in body mass index (BMI) among United States adults with intellectual disability (ID) participating in Special Olympics from 2005 to 2010. In addition, the prevalence of obesity was compared with published National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) statistics. After data cleaning, 6,004 height and weight records (male = 57%) were available from the Special Olympics International Healthy Athletes Health Promotion database for the calculation of BMI. Rates of overweight and obesity were very high but generally stable over time. Compared with NHANES statistics, the prevalence of obesity was significantly higher for Special Olympics female participants in each data collection cycle. Integrated efforts to understand the social, environmental, behavioral, and biological determinants of obesity and among Special Olympics participants are needed.


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