Meanings of the body for obese and overweight adolescents

Introduction and Objective: The purpose of the study is to understand the meanings of the body for obese and overweight adolescents. Materials and Methods: This is na exploratory qualitative research, in which 33 adolescents of both sexes aged between 15 and 19 years old participated, considering the following inclusion criteria: being a person overweight or obese by self-declaration or have Body Mass Index greater than 25. The research was developed at a state public school in the city of Santos-SP. Data were collected through questionnaires and semi-structured interviews, as well as weight and height evaluation to calculate Body Mass Index. Discussion and Results: The data analysis was performed by non-aprioristic categories. As a result, the body meanings were classified into four categories: organic-functional, welfare, dwelling-place and health. Conclusion: It was concluded that there is a diversity of meanings about the body, mostly in a fragmented and cartesian perspective, and that this is related to contemporary body dictates.