Body image in adolescents with disorders of steroidogenesis.

Abstract

AIM:

Little is known about body image in children with endocrine conditions. We evaluated body image in children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), familial male precocious puberty (FMPP), and Cushing's syndrome (CS).

STUDY DESIGN:

We compared 67 patients (41 CAH, 12 FMPP, 14 CS) age 8-18 years with 55 age-matched controls.

RESULTS:

Patients expressed more weight unhappiness than controls (females: p < 0.001; males: p = 0.01). This difference remained for females after adjusting for body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.03), but not for males (p = 0.12). Unhappiness with height and age of appearance was similar between groups. In female patients, higher BMI was a significant predictor of weight unhappiness (p = 0.01).

CONCLUSION:

Adolescents with CAH, FMPP, and CS are at risk for negative body image regarding weight, but not height or age of appearance. Weight unhappiness is partially related to greater weight, but factors unrelated to physical findings seem to contribute to negative body image in female patients.

• Authors: Cong Ning, Liza Green-Golan, Constantine A Stratakis, Ellen Leschek, Ninet Sinaii, Elizabeth Schroth, Monique Ernst, Deborah P Merke
• Journal: Journal of pediatric endocrinology & metabolism : JPEM (J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab) Vol. 21 Issue 8 Pg. 771-80 (Aug 2008) ISSN: 0334-018X [Print] Germany
• PMID: 18825877 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Steroids

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital (metabolism, psychology)
• Body Height (physiology)
• Body Image
• Body Mass Index
• Case-Control Studies
• Child
• Cushing Syndrome (metabolism, psychology)
• Female
• Happiness
• Humans
• Male
• Psychology, Adolescent
• Puberty, Precocious (metabolism, psychology)
• Steroids (biosynthesis, physiology)
• Surveys and Questionnaires