Abstract

SILVA, Nathália Gomes da  and  SILVA, Josevânia da. Psychosocial aspects related to body image of people with excess weight. Rev. Subj. [online]. 2019, vol.19, n.1, pp. 1-16. ISSN 2359-0769.  http://dx.doi.org/10.5020/23590777.rs.v19i1.e8030.

Obesity, in addition to being a disease with an impact on physical and psychological health, is accompanied by socially constructed stigmas regarding body image. Commonly, there is dissatisfaction with body image among overweight people. This study aimed to investigate the body image of overweight people and the psychosocial aspects they experienced. 58 people who were overweight or obese (mean age 38.53 years; SD = 10.69) participated in this study. A sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire was used to collect the data, the Stunkard figures scale, and a semi-structured interview. The results showed that none of the participants were satisfied with their body image. Regarding the analysis of interview content, four categories emerged: Image dissatisfaction: participants stated that they did not like and / or did not feel well with their image, identifying the presence of self-deprecating concepts permeated by feelings of sadness, shame and the sensation of not recognizing oneself in that body; Dissatisfaction with being overweight: Body parts have been reported as bothersome and, in addition, there is a concern with health, pains and difficulties caused by weight have emerged as factors that generate discomfort with one's own body; Prejudice: it is presented in the form of directed comments, negative attitudes, undesired attention, looks of disapproval and curiosity; and they accept themselves as they are: they do not have a negative relation with the image itself, even if they feel uncomfortable, they accept themselves as they are. The results of this study demonstrate the need to expand the approach of overweight people beyond the problems related to the physical-biological sphere since health care requires the perspective of completeness.

Keywords : overweight; obesity; body image; psychosocial aspects.

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