Resumen

LOPEZ ATENCIO, Pedro; MOLINA, Zarela  y  ROJAS, Lizbeth. Influences of gender and body image perception in risk eating disorders in adolescents in Mérida. An Venez Nutr [online]. 2008, vol.21, n.2, pp.85-90. ISSN 0798-0752.

The object of this study was to analyze the influence of gender and body image perception in risk eating conducts associated with the upheavals of eating disorders in adolescents of first and second year of highschool in eight public institutions of the Municipio Libertador in Merida Venezuela, They were selected in an intentional form. A descriptive field, was performed, in which 421 adolescents participated, 56, 5% men and 43,5% females, the average of age for the 15,75 men was ± 1,05 years and for 15,80 females ±1.07 years. For the gathering of the corporal Image data, an instrument was designed and validated, In this the participant chose between four alternatives the option that represented more his/her condition at the moment, 57.5%, perceived themselves as normal, 30.6%, as thin; and 11.9% with overweight. The perception of obese corporal image was not reported. The normal and thin body image were perceived among the adolescents with a higher frequency in men 32.5%, whereas the perception of the image with overweight was more frequent in the females (7.4%). The registry of eating disorders was done through a questionnaire designed and validated by a group of experts constituted by dietitians, sociologists and clinical psychologists in which the interviewed was asked in person to report the eating conduct practiced for the control of weight during the previous six months. The findings allow us to confirm that women whose perception of their image is characterized by the excess present major risks associated with the upheavals of the eating disorders (9,586 F=2 p=0,008 (12,622 F=5 p=0,027).

Palabras clave : Body image; eating disorders; adolescent.