Perception de la corpulence, régime alimentaire, estime de soi et anxiété chez les préadolescents

Objective: to describe the self-esteem and trait-anxiety profile (SE-TA) in early adolescents according to their perception of body weight and dieting behaviors. Method: self-questionnaires in 6 months of interval, during a 24 months follow-up. Main results: adolescents who find their weight “in the average“ have a better self-esteem and are less anxious than the other ones. An altered SE-TA profile is predictive of a body image dissatisfaction 24 months before at the girls and 6 months before at the boys. Boys who find them “overweighted” and who attempted weight loss have an altered ES-AT profile, but not the girls. Conclusion: in terms of prevention programs, these results plead for an adaptation of the actions to the public concerned, based on a meticulous evaluation of its principal psychological and psychosocial characteristics.