Body Image in Hispanic/Latino vs. European American Adolescents: Implications for Treatment and Prevention of Obesity in Underserved Populations

Hispanic/Latino (H/L) vs. European American (EA) perceptions of current and ideal body image as well as body dissatisfaction were examined in 416 adolescents aged 12–15 years. Gender, culture, and body mass index (BMI) were hypothesized to affect measures of self-perceived body image and dissatisfaction differentially. Participants completed a computerized survey with gender-specific versions of applicable test items. Overall, body dissatisfaction (BD) was higher among EAs vs. H/Ls, females vs. males, and unhealthy BMI vs. healthy BMI (p<.01). A gender × ethnicity interaction trend was also noted (p.06), in which BD was highest among EA females, followed by H/L females, EA males, and H/L males. Results suggest that gender and cultural differences in body image among adolescents are significant. This study is an important step toward clarifying the nature of weight-related health risks facing the understudied population of Hispanic/Latino teens.