Revelando o invisível : a obesidade sob a perspectiva das crianças Uma revisão integrativa

Abstract

Abstract: This integrative literature review explores studies on children's perception of obesity and their social representations. Searches were carried out in the following databases: Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences (LILACS), in the Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) and in PubMed, by crossing the following descriptors in the Portuguese language “obesity”, “children”, “stereotyping”, “stigmatization”, “stigmation” and “stereotypic perception” and, in the English language, “obesity”, “children” and “stereotyping” were used. A sample composed of 14 articles was obtained. Through Thematic Content Analysis (BARDIN, 2011), it was possible to express four fundamental categories: 1) negative stereotype; 2) obesity and the principle of contamination; 3) interpersonal relationships and 4) obesity and disabilities. The results show that obesity is seen in a stigmatized way by children, always receiving a negative stereotype, being fundamental the promotion of public policies for inclusion and respect for differences from childhood, either by parents and/or guardians, as well as by the schools, aiming at a less harmful and less stigmatized environment so that children can have the guarantee of the right to grow up healthy and happy, regardless of their weight or physical appearance.