Influence of nutritional status in the perception of body image and self-steem in elderly woman

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between body mass index, self-esteem and body self-image of elderly participants in groups of seniors. METHODS: Cross-sectional study by casual and unsystematic sampling. Participated in the study 50 elderly residents in the city of João Pessoa-PB. The variables investigated were: sex, age, marital status, income, education and body mass index. The analysis of body image perception was performed using the Nine-figure Outline Scale ( Sorensen & Stunkard). RESULTS: There was no statistical significance between variables. The mean age was 72.12 (6.14). The body mass index had an average of 26.91 kg/m², with overweight observed in 51.02% of this population; most women (90.60%) showed good self-esteem, although half (79.31%) of these were above ideal weight; 87.50% were dissatisfied with their own bodies due to excess weight. CONCLUSION: Although the data did not show statistical significance between the variables, the results suggest that, although most elderly women were overweight, self-esteem showed satisfactory level while the perception of body self-image was unsatisfactory.