Background: Influenza A (H1N1) is the most recent pandemic disease that has affected the human population. Objective: To evaluate knowledge and preventive measures related with this disease one year after the epidemic of Mexico- that took place in 2009. Material and methods: An epidemiologic survey regarding influenza A (H1N1) was conducted in June 2010 among 2541 students from the second grade of all public high schools in a borough in Mexico City. The questionnaire included items on the knowledge of the disease and practice of preventive measures. Results: Most students obtained the information from television, half of them from parents and only one fifth from teachers; 72% of the participants had a favorable knowledge about the disease and the measures to avoid being infected. However, only 37% practiced such preventive measures. Conclusion: Knowledge has a positive influence on practices towards health. Parents and teachers have an important role in health education, thus efforts should be directed to involve them more intensely in health education

No abstract

RESUMENIntroducción: Las campañas de prevención de la obesidad que simbolizan el cuerpo sano sin exceso de peso podrían afectar la percepción de la imagen corporal de los adolescentes, como ocurre con el ideal estético. Objetivo: Evaluar su percepción del cuerpo sano y su relación con la insatisfacción corporal Métodos: Se realizó una encuesta en 460 adolescentes, estudiantes de una escuela pública en la Ciudad de México. Se utilizó una prueba de silueta para evaluar la percepción de: su imagen actual, la imagen que les gustaría tener y la imagen que consideraban saludable de acuerdo con las campañas de prevención de la obesidad. La información se analizó mediante correlaciones estadísticas entre cada una de las tres percepciones corporales y la insatisfacción. Resultados: La mayoría de los adolescentes (76.8%) ubican al cuerpo sano en un índice de masa corporal de peso normal. Se encontró una relación casi nula con la dirección negativa entre el cuerpo sano y la insatisfacción corporal. Conclusión: Los resultados indican que las campañas que promueven el cuerpo sano logran que los adolescentes identifiquen un cuerpo asociado con menores riesgos para la salud, sin implicar una afectación importante en su percepción corporal. Palabras Clave: prevención, obesidad, cuerpo sano, insatisfacción corporal. ABSTRACT Introduction:The obesity prevention campaigns that symbolize the healthy body without excess weight could affect the perception of the body image of adolescents, as it happens with the aesthetic ideal. Objective: Evaluate their perception of the healthy body and its relationship with body dissatisfaction. Methods: A survey was conducted in 460 adolescents, students of a public school in Mexico City. A silhouette test was used to assess the perception of: their current image, the image they would like to have, and the image they considered healthy according to the obesity prevention campaigns. The information was analyzed through statistical correlations between each of the three body perceptions and dissatisfaction. Results: The majority of adolescents (76.8%) place the healthy body in a body mass index of normal weight. An almost null relationship with negative direction was found between the healthy body and body dissatisfaction. Conclusion: The results indicate that the campaigns that promote the healthy body achieve that adolescents identify a body associated with lower risks to health, without implying an important affectation in their corporal perception.

No abstract