Nutrition, self-esteem and body image of women with chronic renal failure on hemodialysis

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) terminal and its treatment result in impairment in physical, psychological, spiritual and social conditions of people, which reflects in their self-esteem, body image and nutritional status. Objectives: Investigate self-esteem, body image and the anthropometric nutritional status in women with chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis. Methods: Cross-sectional study carried out from October 2012 to June 2013, with 110 women during hemodialysis sessions, in which the forms of sociodemographic were used, the Rosenberg scale, the Body Measurement Scale and silhouettes Scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and correlations was used Spermam correlation test. Results: It was observed that 42.7% of women had a high self-esteem, 61.8% had high satisfaction with body image, however, the investigation of satisfaction with their silhouettes showed that 71.4% of women were dissatisfied. In relation to body mass index, 54 women (49.1%) were inadequate, these 14.5% had malnutrition, 28.2% overweight and 6.4% obese. Regarding the risk of developing cardiovascular disease 34.5% had risk by waist circumference and 64.5% of women by the ratio between waist and height. Discussion: The correlation between body mass index and the waist circumference shown to be significant (P <0.001, r = 0.811) as well as the correlation between body mass index and the relation between WC and height (P < 0.001, r = 0.803). There was a statistically inverse correlation between: Silhouette Scale and self-esteem (p = 0.006 and r = -0.259), Silhouette Scale and Body Measurement Scale (P <0.001 and r = -0.413), body image and waist circumference (p = 0.040 r = -0.196), importance of appearance and the relationship between the waist and height (p = 0.042 and r = -0.194). And statistically direct correlation between self-esteem and Body Measurement Scale (P <0.001 and r = 0.632), body image and importance of appearance (p = 0.001 and r = 0.300). Conclusions: This study indicates that women with chronic renal failure undergoing hemodialysis may have their self-esteem, body image and anthropometric nutritional status modified by the disease and its treatment.