Body image insatisfaction in students from the sixth grade of public schools in Caxias do Sul, Southern Brazil.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of body image insatisfaction among schoolchildren aged 11 to 14 years from the municipality of Caxias do Sul, Southern Brazil, and to determine the possible associations with nutritional status, socioeconomic status, gender, and maternal education.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted and 1,417 children were evaluated regarding total body weight, height, and waist circumference. Obesity was defined based on the body mass index according to sex and age.