Body Image Associated With Risky Eating Behaviors in Patients With Obesity

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the association between body image and risky eating behaviors in patients with obesity. Methods: an analytical cross-sectional study was carried out by simple random sampling in patients with obesity, who were beneficiaries of the Family Medicine Unit (fmu) No. 75 of the Mexican Institute of Social Security (imss), after signing an informed consent. Descriptive statistics were performed, and frequencies and percentages were determined; the association between body image and risky eating behaviors was estimated by χ². Results: 202 participants with obesity were studied, of whom 68.8% were women and 32.2% were men, the mean age was 40 years. Those who presented mild concern for body image and risky eating behaviors, 37. 9% presented moderate risk (n=22) and 22.4%, high risk (n=13); as for moderate concern, 26.9% represented moderate risk (n=7), 53.8%, high risk (n=14); in relation to extreme concern, 54.5% had moderate risk (n=6) and 36.4%, high risk (n=4). A statistically significant association (p<0.0004) was found between body image and risky eating behaviors. Conclusion: moderate to extreme body image concerns were associated with risky eating behaviors in participants with obesity. It is necessary to implement programs to attend eating behaviors and to identify body image perception.