Descripción de la figura física y composición corporal, imagen corporal, hábitos de alimentación, de actividad física y opinión acerca de cirugías cosméticas en modelos costarricenses

Abstract

A description of the body figure and composition, body image, eating habits, physical activity and cosmetic surgery opinions in Costa Rican fashion models. Abstract Background: It is known that models, especially women, undergo surgeries and have eating habits that may be detrimental for their health. However, the physical activity or physical training habits of these models are unknown and there is a lack of scientific evidence allowing to accurately determining these regime in models. Purpose: To describe the body figure and composition, body image, eating habits, physical activity and cosmetic surgery opinions in female and male models in Costa Rica and compare them with controls. Methods: In a descriptive cross-sectional study participants completed body image, body part satisfaction, social physical anxiety, objectified body awareness, food consumption, physical activity, acceptance of surgeries and body care questionnaires and a body composition evaluation by dual X-ray energy absorptiometry (DXA). Results: Volunteers were 135 participants, who were allocated into groups of models (females = 35, males = 18) and controls (females = 40, males = 42). For the adiposity component, regardless of gender, the % body fat was lower in models than controls (p ≤ 0.001). Female models had a lower conicity index than female controls (p ≤ 0.001), and male models and controls had a similar conicity index (p = 0.692). There were no significant differences in perceived or desired body image in female models and controls (p = 0.307), or among male models and controls (p = 0.674). In general, rice and beans were the most common complex carbohydrates found in the diet of participants. Compared to controls, models showed a lower frequency of rice intake, a higher consumption of flour vegetables and whole grains, a preference for healthy fats and lower consumption of sweet biscuits, baked goods and vegetable oil. In general, regardless of gender models reported a more frequent consumption of eggs and meat than controls. A higher frequency of fat and liquid consumption was found in males compared to women regardless of the group also follow gender patterns previously studied. Males reported higher weekly physical activity than females (p = 0.001). Models have a higher cosmetic surgery acceptance than controls (p ≤ 0.001). Females reported higher acceptance of cosmetic surgeries scores than males (p = 0.043). There was a significant correlation between acceptance of cosmetic surgeries and age (r = 0.37, p = 0.001). No female in the control group or any of the male models or controls reported having undergone aesthetic surgeries. Female models reported breast augmentation (22.9%), liposculpture (20.0%), otoplasty (8.6%), lipoinjection or buttock augmentation (5.7%), rhinoplasty (5.7%), botulinum toxin (e.g., Botox®) (2.9%), cesarean (2.9%), facial lipoinjection (2.9%) and "Slim laser" or lipolaser (2.9%) procedures. Conclusion: This is the first study conducted in Costa Rica on female and male models. Some physical and psychological characteristics of both groups are similar to those of the general population of the same age and gender; however, other features are different and require further investigation.