**3. Aetiology and the establishment of body dissatisfaction**

Since the two-year-old child is already self-aware of its identity and recognizes its body image reflected in the mirror, the body image may be developed concomitantly to the development of the human body (Castilho, 2001). As a rule, body images are dynamic, changeable and directly related to the outside world (Tavares, 2003). The distortion of body perception may occur when the subjects overestimate or underestimate their body size and form. Social and cultural influences, pressures by the social media and the continuous search for an ideal body standard associated with achievements and happiness are the main causes of changes in body image and cause deep dissatisfaction in individuals, especially in women (Conti et al., 2005a,b).

Young people undergo constant psychological, emotional, somatic and cognitive changes which contribute towards deep concern with physical appearance and a craze for the ideal body (Tavares, 2003). The body dissatisfaction developed by adolescents may be related to changes in their self-image and self-esteem, coupled to excessive preoccupations with weight, body form and fat. The above alterations and concerns show that there is a discrepancy between the perception and the desire for a specific body size and shape which may predispose young people to develop psychological disorders (Almeida et al., 2005; Conti et al., 2010; Neumark-Sztainer et al., 2006; Smolak et al., 1999). Food intake, self-esteem and physical and cognitive performance depend on the intensity of this dissatisfaction and may be the cause of altering several aspects in the subjects' life (Smolak & Levine, 2001).

It should be underscored, however, that disturbances in body perception are not merely a trait proper to young people who develop some type of eating disorder (Branco et al., 2006). In fact, body dissatisfaction, excessive concern with weight and a history of restrictive diets during adolescence are predisposing factors for the development of eating disorder behaviour such as bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa and binge eating disorder (Stein, et al., 1998). The social media, parents and friends are accountable for social comparisons on the physical aspects and idealizing concepts of slimness. They are thus related with the development of body dissatisfaction and, consequently, with low self-esteem, limitations in psychological and social performance and depression conditions (Robinson et al., 2001; Sands & Wardle, 2003; Stice, et al., 2000).

The social media is accountable for food behaviour disorders or the body image. In fact, it not merely broadcasts images of perfect body forms but stimulates the intake of non-healthy food. Since magazines, films and advertisements publish images of young people with slim, muscular bodies, they induce individuals to establish an idea of beauty which is totally personal, characterized by unreachable aesthetic standards, in spite of all the diversity and singularity presented (Saikali et al., 2004).

Whereas by the end of the 20th century, human manikins weighed 8% less than the average women at that time, currently they weigh 23% less. The difference may be associated with a decrease in the models' weight but also with women's weight gain in general. Body dissatisfaction, taken to be a standardized item in Western women, may be attributed to an increasing social and cultural pressure imposed by the social media in its portrayal of the ideal physical profile such as an unreal slimness for females and a muscular body for males (Becker et al., 2002; Rodin, et al., 1985; Stice et al., 2002). Such body image corresponds to

Bulimia Nervosa and Dissatisfaction of Adolescent's Body Shape 91

revealed perception levels with regard to their parents' and friends' expectations on their featuring a slim body (Pinheiro, 2003). Dissatisfaction with body shape already affects a great number of pre-adolescents, even in those with adequate weight. Regardless of nutrition state and sex, excessive concern with weight shows that many pre-adolescents are under pressure to adopt beauty stereotypes (Triches & Giugliani, 2007). Research reveals that during the first years of adolescence parents exert a great influence on their children's

Obese children are unhappy and dissatisfied with weight excess and reveal psychic sufferings, low self-esteem and insecurity due to jokes and pranks practiced on them by their school mates (Braet, et al., 1997). Parents of 5-year-old overweight girls reported very high levels of concern with regard to the body mass of their daughters when compared with those whose daughters' weight was "normal". Very early in life these girls are concerned with their body: whereas they normally reveal low body esteem, their knowledge on nutrition and diets is considerable (Abramovitz & Birch, 2000; Davison & Birch, 2001). Further studies are required to have an in-depth evaluation on the origin and consequences of children's dissatisfaction with regard to their body, taking into account the degree of dissatisfaction and family, social and cultural influences. However, the above information is enough to make parents, educators and health professionals on the look out for such a high prevalence in body dissatisfaction among pre-adolescent children so that the necessary strategies for a better body satisfaction could be taken. The literature has abundant studies on the theme of the body in adolescence and on its influence in the subjects' health. In fact, several investigations report that 25 to 80% are not satisfied with their body (Stice & Whitenton, 2002). Western society highly values the slim and graceful body and fashion clothes are manufactured small size to this end. This condition causes a lack of body satisfaction in overweight subjects or in people with excessive weight, which is also associated with health concerns. In fact, the increasing number of obese people within a population, especially among children and adolescents, is a case of public health since they are in danger of developing diseases such as hypertension and Type 2 diabetes, coupled to problems in the spine, in bone articulations and in the lower members (Carvalho et al.,

Overweight children and adolescents reveal a high rate of body dissatisfaction and a negative impact on the development of their self-image (Carvalho et al., 2005; Conti, 2005a,b; Davison & Birch 2001; Erling & Hwang, 2004). However, lack of satisfaction is not exclusive to this group since it has also been reported in over 15-year-old adolescents. Except those who are very slim, practically all desire to lose weight (Wardle & Cooke, 2005). Children and adolescents within the 9-16 years bracket have low self-esteem due to their physical characteristics, and their happiness and intelligence levels are lower when compared with slim or eutrophic types (Paxton et al., 1991). The above situation demonstrates that self-perception with regard to the body type may cause serious

Most girls develop an awareness of their body form in the wake of their observations of their parents' habits and attitudes. The family is actually the primary socializing agent and may influence the perceptive self-evaluation of the children and the development of their habits (Hill & Franklin, 1998). Parents may have an influence on their offspring's body dissatisfaction when they show concern with regard to their children's weight. This concern may occur implicitly when access to certain food is monitored or restricted, or explicitly when the weight

and body form of other children are criticized or compared (Birch & Fisher, 1998).

physical appearance and lifestyle (Robinson, 2001; Smolak at al., 1999).

2005).

interference on the body.

that to which young people are constantly exposed to in advertisements, musical videos and films (Morrison et al., 2004; Stice & Shaw, 2002; Stice & Whitenton, 2002).

Feminine body dissatisfaction may be related to the social concepts advertised by the media which valorises and defines the slim body as physically more attractive and compensating; as a contrast, fat people's profiles are considered non-attractive and non-appealing. This situation reveals the female trend to acquire a body which will be an object of desire (Stormer & Thompson, 1996). Most TV film stars are slim and only 5% may be classified as fat (Silverstein et al., 1986).

Since human manikins advertised in women's magazines are represented statically, they reinforce the idea that the body is just an ornament (Duquin, 1989). Fashion magazines are important sources of information on beauty and excellence in form. Young women, who are their most frequent readers, demonstrate high dissatisfaction levels with regard to body form and most probably are prone to alter their social behaviour and food habits, such as practicing exhausting physical exercises or shunning meals, to decrease their body weight (Ferriani et al., 2005; Vilela et al., 2004). Women's constant contact with ideal body images advertised by the social media increases the occurrence of attitudes and behaviours which characterize eating disorders such as bulimia nervosa (Stice et al., 1994).

The social media also advertises the ideal male body as essentially muscular. It is actually a situation very similar to that among women where the male body is also an object of desire (Sommers-Flanagan et al., 1993). Several studies showed that most interviewed people had a hard conviction that the male body should be muscular while few replied that slimness is the true characteristic of the ideal male body (Murray et al., 1996). Consequently, very slim or very fat males represent a negative body image and, as a rule, are not in the media's limelight (Silverstein et al., 1986; Morrison et al., 2004). Concerns on the proper physical male profile have been intensified since the 1960s, with special emphasis on strength and body building so that the muscular body could be constructed (Petrie et al., 1996).

Since children aged between 8 and 11 years were aware of the slim body as the ideal to be attained, it may be surmised that their perception has been under the influence of the social media which is accountable for the broadcasting of body images of film stars and models as highly attractive and imitable (Cusumano & Thompson, 2001). A study on young females, aged between 12 and 29, from the southern region of Brazil, was undertaken. Most of the women desired to have size and body mass less than their present condition even though only one third of this group was classified with a BMI equivalent to overweight or obesity (Nunes et al., 2003).

Parents and friends, along with the social media, construct body dissatisfaction in people (Sands & Wardle, 2003). Eating habits and a body image may be built during the preadolescence period, although it is not an exclusive adolescence problem (Robinson, 2001). Concern with body weight afflicts 6- and 7-year-old girls due to concepts transmitted by society on what is attractive and graceful. These ideas foregrounding the girls' awareness on physical attractiveness, may very well be a reproduction of their mothers' opinions and attitudes (Castilho, 2001, Davison et al., 2000; Lowes & Tiggemann, 2003)

In fact, the desire to be slim is manifest at the very onset of puberty. There is, however, much evidence that even pre-puberty children are worried about their body's shape and loss of weight is a great concern (Carvalho et al., 2005). Dissatisfaction and concern with the body and their repercussions were reported in a population-based investigation in the southern region of Brazil, comprising students within the 8-11 years bracket. In fact, 82% of the children desired a different body form since they manifested low self-esteem and

that to which young people are constantly exposed to in advertisements, musical videos and

Feminine body dissatisfaction may be related to the social concepts advertised by the media which valorises and defines the slim body as physically more attractive and compensating; as a contrast, fat people's profiles are considered non-attractive and non-appealing. This situation reveals the female trend to acquire a body which will be an object of desire (Stormer & Thompson, 1996). Most TV film stars are slim and only 5% may be classified as

Since human manikins advertised in women's magazines are represented statically, they reinforce the idea that the body is just an ornament (Duquin, 1989). Fashion magazines are important sources of information on beauty and excellence in form. Young women, who are their most frequent readers, demonstrate high dissatisfaction levels with regard to body form and most probably are prone to alter their social behaviour and food habits, such as practicing exhausting physical exercises or shunning meals, to decrease their body weight (Ferriani et al., 2005; Vilela et al., 2004). Women's constant contact with ideal body images advertised by the social media increases the occurrence of attitudes and behaviours which

The social media also advertises the ideal male body as essentially muscular. It is actually a situation very similar to that among women where the male body is also an object of desire (Sommers-Flanagan et al., 1993). Several studies showed that most interviewed people had a hard conviction that the male body should be muscular while few replied that slimness is the true characteristic of the ideal male body (Murray et al., 1996). Consequently, very slim or very fat males represent a negative body image and, as a rule, are not in the media's limelight (Silverstein et al., 1986; Morrison et al., 2004). Concerns on the proper physical male profile have been intensified since the 1960s, with special emphasis on strength and

Since children aged between 8 and 11 years were aware of the slim body as the ideal to be attained, it may be surmised that their perception has been under the influence of the social media which is accountable for the broadcasting of body images of film stars and models as highly attractive and imitable (Cusumano & Thompson, 2001). A study on young females, aged between 12 and 29, from the southern region of Brazil, was undertaken. Most of the women desired to have size and body mass less than their present condition even though only one third of this group was classified with a BMI equivalent to overweight or obesity

Parents and friends, along with the social media, construct body dissatisfaction in people (Sands & Wardle, 2003). Eating habits and a body image may be built during the preadolescence period, although it is not an exclusive adolescence problem (Robinson, 2001). Concern with body weight afflicts 6- and 7-year-old girls due to concepts transmitted by society on what is attractive and graceful. These ideas foregrounding the girls' awareness on physical attractiveness, may very well be a reproduction of their mothers' opinions and

In fact, the desire to be slim is manifest at the very onset of puberty. There is, however, much evidence that even pre-puberty children are worried about their body's shape and loss of weight is a great concern (Carvalho et al., 2005). Dissatisfaction and concern with the body and their repercussions were reported in a population-based investigation in the southern region of Brazil, comprising students within the 8-11 years bracket. In fact, 82% of the children desired a different body form since they manifested low self-esteem and

body building so that the muscular body could be constructed (Petrie et al., 1996).

attitudes (Castilho, 2001, Davison et al., 2000; Lowes & Tiggemann, 2003)

films (Morrison et al., 2004; Stice & Shaw, 2002; Stice & Whitenton, 2002).

characterize eating disorders such as bulimia nervosa (Stice et al., 1994).

fat (Silverstein et al., 1986).

(Nunes et al., 2003).

revealed perception levels with regard to their parents' and friends' expectations on their featuring a slim body (Pinheiro, 2003). Dissatisfaction with body shape already affects a great number of pre-adolescents, even in those with adequate weight. Regardless of nutrition state and sex, excessive concern with weight shows that many pre-adolescents are under pressure to adopt beauty stereotypes (Triches & Giugliani, 2007). Research reveals that during the first years of adolescence parents exert a great influence on their children's physical appearance and lifestyle (Robinson, 2001; Smolak at al., 1999).

Obese children are unhappy and dissatisfied with weight excess and reveal psychic sufferings, low self-esteem and insecurity due to jokes and pranks practiced on them by their school mates (Braet, et al., 1997). Parents of 5-year-old overweight girls reported very high levels of concern with regard to the body mass of their daughters when compared with those whose daughters' weight was "normal". Very early in life these girls are concerned with their body: whereas they normally reveal low body esteem, their knowledge on nutrition and diets is considerable (Abramovitz & Birch, 2000; Davison & Birch, 2001).

Further studies are required to have an in-depth evaluation on the origin and consequences of children's dissatisfaction with regard to their body, taking into account the degree of dissatisfaction and family, social and cultural influences. However, the above information is enough to make parents, educators and health professionals on the look out for such a high prevalence in body dissatisfaction among pre-adolescent children so that the necessary strategies for a better body satisfaction could be taken. The literature has abundant studies on the theme of the body in adolescence and on its influence in the subjects' health. In fact, several investigations report that 25 to 80% are not satisfied with their body (Stice & Whitenton, 2002). Western society highly values the slim and graceful body and fashion clothes are manufactured small size to this end. This condition causes a lack of body satisfaction in overweight subjects or in people with excessive weight, which is also associated with health concerns. In fact, the increasing number of obese people within a population, especially among children and adolescents, is a case of public health since they are in danger of developing diseases such as hypertension and Type 2 diabetes, coupled to problems in the spine, in bone articulations and in the lower members (Carvalho et al., 2005).

Overweight children and adolescents reveal a high rate of body dissatisfaction and a negative impact on the development of their self-image (Carvalho et al., 2005; Conti, 2005a,b; Davison & Birch 2001; Erling & Hwang, 2004). However, lack of satisfaction is not exclusive to this group since it has also been reported in over 15-year-old adolescents. Except those who are very slim, practically all desire to lose weight (Wardle & Cooke, 2005). Children and adolescents within the 9-16 years bracket have low self-esteem due to their physical characteristics, and their happiness and intelligence levels are lower when compared with slim or eutrophic types (Paxton et al., 1991). The above situation demonstrates that self-perception with regard to the body type may cause serious interference on the body.

Most girls develop an awareness of their body form in the wake of their observations of their parents' habits and attitudes. The family is actually the primary socializing agent and may influence the perceptive self-evaluation of the children and the development of their habits (Hill & Franklin, 1998). Parents may have an influence on their offspring's body dissatisfaction when they show concern with regard to their children's weight. This concern may occur implicitly when access to certain food is monitored or restricted, or explicitly when the weight and body form of other children are criticized or compared (Birch & Fisher, 1998).

Bulimia Nervosa and Dissatisfaction of Adolescent's Body Shape 93

Attractiveness self-evaluation decreases in subjects constantly exposed to the professional models in advertisements or fashion (Martin & Kennedy, 1993; Thornton & Moore, 1993). However, females who have taken up famous people (a general target) as a reference for their physical beauty standard also exhibited a decrease in their self-evaluation of attractiveness. As a consequence, they are prone to take up abnormal weight control

A Canadian study on adolescents within the 15-19 age bracket showed that male and female groups had an inverse relationship with regard to their evaluation of body image, selfesteem and body satisfaction. Several male adolescents considered themselves very slim, or rather, with less musculature than male actors and models, with the consequent need to increase their muscle mass. On the other hand, female adolescents had a body perception of obese people. Such changes in body perception may be related to their exposition to the media through which ambiguous concepts on body form are acquired. They thus underwent an intense general social comparison which, as a rule, brings about low levels of

**4. Methodological aspects in the study of dissatisfaction with body image** 

(Conti, 2008; Coqueiro et al., 2008; Tribess et al., 2010; Triches & Giugliani, 2007).

related to discontent with one's body (Robinson et al., 2001).

related to body dissatisfaction (Robinson et al., 2001).

Souza-Kaneshima et al., 2008).

People who are extremely worried with their physical appearance are also susceptible to a negative or distorted body image (Castilho, 2001). Recent studies show that dissatisfaction with the body has reached alarming levels and has affected people in several age brackets

Leonhard and Barry (1998) remark that the very first studies on body image were restricted to and underscored body measurements, or rather, they focused on subjects classified as obese according to the BMI. The ideal current standard of feminine beauty corresponds to extreme slimness, whereas obesity is a negative factor in people's life. A high BMI is also

Several analyses have shown that overweight school children and adolescents manifest low self-esteem and dissatisfaction with their body image when they compare themselves to eutrophic schoolmates (Gleaves et al., 1995; Pinheiro & Giugliani, 2006a; Stice et al., 1996; Tiggemann, 1994). An investigation among students in the USA showed that body dissatisfaction featuring weight concern is highly prevalent among both sexes, in different ethnic groups and in social and economical classes. In fact, high BMI rates were always

It has been verified in current study that most eutrophic girls desire to be slimmer in contrast to boys' ideal for a bigger body or a bigger body form (Robinson et al., 2001) From the feminine point of view the ideal beauty stereotype is basically a lean and slim body, similar to the Barbie® doll which represents the ideal feminine slimness (Norton et al., 1996), whereas the male's point of view focuses on the robust and muscular body shape as the ideal of beauty,

A study among Brazilian adolescents in the state of Paraná, aged 15 – 19 years, verified that 48.6% of female adolescents with negative body image were eutrophic; only 2.6% of adolescents classified with malnutrition or on the malnutrition border had such disturbances; 14.5% of adolescents who had body image disturbance were actually overweight or obese. In the case of male adolescents, only 10% of the eutrophic group had body image disturbances and 8.6% were overweight or obese (Souza-Kaneshima et al., 2006;

very similar to the super-heroes dolls male children play with (Pope et al., 1999).

practices such as vomit induction (Heinberg & Thompson, 1992).

self-esteem (Morrison et al., 2004).

Several non-overweight adolescents have reported their feeling on finding themselves fat. The feeling is associated with the body perception acquired during childhood and is related to parents' expectations with regard to children's ideal weight. Actually parents have a direct influence on their children's look up till the first year of adolescence. Moreover, the mother's excessive worry on the daughters' weight may decrease the body form perception regardless of their weight (Davison & Birch, 2001; Pinheiro & Giugliani , 2006a).

Since the role of the female model is proper to mothers and it is a well-known fact that they influence their children's food habits since childhood, it may be remarked that the highest rates of body dissatisfaction in children and young people may be related to the mothers' opinion with regard to their children's weight (Hill & Franklin, 1998; Keel et al., 1997; Mukai, 1996). Body satisfaction level in adolescents and the adoption and the frequency of diets reflect the mothers' attitudes and concepts. This fact reveals that adolescents' body dissatisfaction is not exclusively affected by their body self-awareness but also by the behaviour of their mothers (Hill & Franklin, 1998).

The mother's schooling level has been employed to assess economic social level. Daughters whose mothers have had less than eight years of schooling revealed an increased predisposition with regard to body dissatisfaction level. Such predisposition may be related to the need of acceptance by the social milieu since complying with the fashionable beauty standard may increase their possibility of social elevation due to their insertion within the artistic or fashion status (Cusumano & Thompson, 2001). However, several authors remark that female adolescents of the higher social classes also have greater concerns with the body shape and size (Ogden & Thomas, 1999). The above divergent results may be due to the employment of different research tools and different population samples. No significant difference in the proportion of subjects with or without body dissatisfaction was perceived in a study undertaken with several people with different ethnic and social-economical class backgrounds (Wang et al., 2005). Although parents may have an impact on boys so that they may gain weight and develop their muscles, further studies are required to evaluate the parents' influence in the boys' body image (Ricciardelli & McCabe, 2001).

Friends have a great impact on socialization during the period of adolescence and social comparison is a highly employed mechanism among them (Lattimore & Butterworth, 1999). Concerns in body weight among adolescents in the upper high school and a great probability of taking up restrictive diets may reflect the impact exerted by female friends. Several authors discuss that female friends' influence in late adolescence is higher than that provided by mothers with regard to diet attitudes and behaviour (Mukai, 1996; Taylor et al., 1998). Lack of body satisfaction among male adolescents is also related to the influence of friends and of the social media. Parents' impact is low during this period (O'Koon, 1997; Ricciardelli, et al., 2000).

As a rule, social comparison is proper to adolescents due to exhibited similar traits. Such a comparison may be related to the bearing for more or for less, and also to the characteristics of the target. When subjects with characteristics below their interest levels are compared, there is an automatic increase in subjective well-being; however, if social comparisons are directed towards subjects with better physical traits, the former subjects' well-being levels and their self-evaluation in attractiveness decrease considerably (Wheeler & Miyake, 1992). When target characteristics are taken into account, the general target consists of information provided by the media which is a powerful means to influence idealized standards presented by the specific target provided by friends and family (Irving, 1990).

Several non-overweight adolescents have reported their feeling on finding themselves fat. The feeling is associated with the body perception acquired during childhood and is related to parents' expectations with regard to children's ideal weight. Actually parents have a direct influence on their children's look up till the first year of adolescence. Moreover, the mother's excessive worry on the daughters' weight may decrease the body form perception

Since the role of the female model is proper to mothers and it is a well-known fact that they influence their children's food habits since childhood, it may be remarked that the highest rates of body dissatisfaction in children and young people may be related to the mothers' opinion with regard to their children's weight (Hill & Franklin, 1998; Keel et al., 1997; Mukai, 1996). Body satisfaction level in adolescents and the adoption and the frequency of diets reflect the mothers' attitudes and concepts. This fact reveals that adolescents' body dissatisfaction is not exclusively affected by their body self-awareness but also by the

The mother's schooling level has been employed to assess economic social level. Daughters whose mothers have had less than eight years of schooling revealed an increased predisposition with regard to body dissatisfaction level. Such predisposition may be related to the need of acceptance by the social milieu since complying with the fashionable beauty standard may increase their possibility of social elevation due to their insertion within the artistic or fashion status (Cusumano & Thompson, 2001). However, several authors remark that female adolescents of the higher social classes also have greater concerns with the body shape and size (Ogden & Thomas, 1999). The above divergent results may be due to the employment of different research tools and different population samples. No significant difference in the proportion of subjects with or without body dissatisfaction was perceived in a study undertaken with several people with different ethnic and social-economical class backgrounds (Wang et al., 2005). Although parents may have an impact on boys so that they may gain weight and develop their muscles, further studies are required to evaluate the

Friends have a great impact on socialization during the period of adolescence and social comparison is a highly employed mechanism among them (Lattimore & Butterworth, 1999). Concerns in body weight among adolescents in the upper high school and a great probability of taking up restrictive diets may reflect the impact exerted by female friends. Several authors discuss that female friends' influence in late adolescence is higher than that provided by mothers with regard to diet attitudes and behaviour (Mukai, 1996; Taylor et al., 1998). Lack of body satisfaction among male adolescents is also related to the influence of friends and of the social media. Parents' impact is low during this period (O'Koon, 1997;

As a rule, social comparison is proper to adolescents due to exhibited similar traits. Such a comparison may be related to the bearing for more or for less, and also to the characteristics of the target. When subjects with characteristics below their interest levels are compared, there is an automatic increase in subjective well-being; however, if social comparisons are directed towards subjects with better physical traits, the former subjects' well-being levels and their self-evaluation in attractiveness decrease considerably (Wheeler & Miyake, 1992). When target characteristics are taken into account, the general target consists of information provided by the media which is a powerful means to influence idealized standards

presented by the specific target provided by friends and family (Irving, 1990).

regardless of their weight (Davison & Birch, 2001; Pinheiro & Giugliani , 2006a).

parents' influence in the boys' body image (Ricciardelli & McCabe, 2001).

behaviour of their mothers (Hill & Franklin, 1998).

Ricciardelli, et al., 2000).

Attractiveness self-evaluation decreases in subjects constantly exposed to the professional models in advertisements or fashion (Martin & Kennedy, 1993; Thornton & Moore, 1993). However, females who have taken up famous people (a general target) as a reference for their physical beauty standard also exhibited a decrease in their self-evaluation of attractiveness. As a consequence, they are prone to take up abnormal weight control practices such as vomit induction (Heinberg & Thompson, 1992).

A Canadian study on adolescents within the 15-19 age bracket showed that male and female groups had an inverse relationship with regard to their evaluation of body image, selfesteem and body satisfaction. Several male adolescents considered themselves very slim, or rather, with less musculature than male actors and models, with the consequent need to increase their muscle mass. On the other hand, female adolescents had a body perception of obese people. Such changes in body perception may be related to their exposition to the media through which ambiguous concepts on body form are acquired. They thus underwent an intense general social comparison which, as a rule, brings about low levels of self-esteem (Morrison et al., 2004).
