Relationships between Body Weight Perception and Weight Management: Practices among Adolescents

Background and Objectives: Overweight and obesity are highly prevalent in western countries and growing problems in developing countries. Weight loss behaviors are highly prevalent among adolescents, and body weight perception motivates weight control practices. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationships between actual body weight, body weight perception, and weight control practices among adolescents. Material and methods: A questionnaire-based survey was used to collect data on anthropometric measurements, demographic information, weight perception and weight control practices from a sample of 200 male and female students (89 boys and 111 girls) aged between13 and19 year old. The association between weight loss attempts and socio demographic factors, weight status and the weight perception were analyzed. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the predictors of misperception and its association with weight-related behaviors. Cohen's kappa was calculated to analyze the accuracy of body weight perceptions. Results: This study revealed that prevalence of underweight was higher in girls than boys. In this study, 8% were underweight including 3.5% severely underweight, 23.5% were overweight, 6% were obese and the rest of the participants (59%) were of normal weight. Only 61.5% respondents perceived their weight correctly. Perception of 21.5% adolescents was underestimated and 16.5% were overestimated than their actual weight status. Almost one third of the respondents were in weight control interventions. Almost 11% boys and 33% girls attempted weight loss activities. The gender biasness was seen in weight control (statistically significant ,p value =0.003). Body weight perception was found significant (p value, 0.001) in relation to weight control behavior. Conclusion: Body weight perceptions are not in agreement with actual weight in adolescents. This discrepancy is more marked in females who use a variety of weight control behaviors. These behaviors are motivated more apparently by perceived weight rather than actual body mass index.

Download Full-text

Body Weight Perception and Weight Control Practices among Teenagers

ISRN Nutrition ◽

10.5402/2013/395125 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-6 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Darshini Devi Bhurtun ◽

Rajesh Jeewon

Keyword(s):

Weight Loss ◽

Body Weight ◽

Weight Control ◽

Weight Status ◽

Fruits And Vegetables ◽

Weight Perception ◽

Female Students ◽

Fat Intake ◽

Actual Weight ◽

Body Weight Perception

Background. Weight-loss behaviours are highly prevalent among adolescents, and body weight perception motivates weight control practices. However, little is known about the association of body weight perception, and weight control practices among teenagers in Mauritius. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationships between actual body weight, body weight perception, and weight control practices among teenagers. Methods. A questionnaire-based survey was used to collect data on anthropometric measurements, weight perception and weight control practices from a sample of 180 male and female students (90 boys and 90 girls) aged between 13 and 18 years old. Results. Based on BMI, 11.7% of students were overweight. Overall, 43.3% of respondents reported trying to lose weight (61.1% girls and 25.6% boys). Weight-loss behaviours were more prevalent among girls. Among the weight-loss teens, 88.5% students perceived themselves as overweight even though only 19.2% were overweight. Reducing fat intake (84.6%), exercising (80.8%), and increasing intake of fruits and vegetables (73.1%) and decreasing intake of sugar (66.7%) were the most commonly reported methods to lose weight. Conclusion. Body weight perception was poorly associated with actual weight status. Gender difference was observed in body weight perception.

Download Full-text

Weight control behaviors according to body weight status and accuracy of weight perceptions among Korean women: a nationwide population-based survey

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-019-45596-z ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Boyoung Park ◽

Ha Na Cho ◽

Eunji Choi ◽

Da Hea Seo ◽

Nam-Soon Kim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Weight Control ◽

Weight Status ◽

Population Based ◽

Korean Women ◽

Weight Control Behaviors ◽

Weight Perceptions ◽

Body Weight Status ◽

Population Based Survey

Download Full-text

Social factors, weight perception, and weight control practices among adolescents in Mexico

Journal of Health Psychology ◽

10.1177/1359105316643596 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 23 (7) ◽

pp. 939-950 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Ietza Bojorquez ◽

Jorge Villatoro ◽

Marlene Delgadillo ◽

Clara Fleiz ◽

Diana Fregoso ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

National Survey ◽

Social Factors ◽

Poisson Regression ◽

Regression Models ◽

Weight Control ◽

Maternal Education ◽

Weight Perception ◽

Level Of Education ◽

Body Weight Perception

We evaluated the association of social factors and weight control practices in adolescents, and the mediation of this association by weight perception, in a national survey of students in Mexico ( n = 28,266). We employed multinomial and Poisson regression models and Sobel’s test to assess mediation. Students whose mothers had a higher level of education were more likely to perceive themselves as overweight and also to engage in weight control practices. After adjusting for body weight perception, the effect of maternal education on weight control practices remained significant. Mediation tests were significant for boys and non-significant for girls.

Download Full-text

Body weight perception is associated with socio-economic status and current body weight in selected urban and rural South Indian school-going children

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980012000134 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 15 (12) ◽

pp. 2348-2356 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Maria Pauline ◽

Sumithra Selvam ◽

Sumathi Swaminathan ◽

Mario Vaz

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Weight Status ◽

Economic Status ◽

Weight Perception ◽

Ideal Body Weight ◽

Overweight Children ◽

Socio Economic Status ◽

South Indian ◽

Baseline Evaluation ◽

Body Weight Perception

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate the current and ideal body weight perceptions of schoolchildren in relation to their actual body weight and socio-economic status (SES).DesignBaseline evaluation of schoolchildren from January 2008 to April 2008 as part of a 3-year longitudinal study.SettingCity and non-city locations, Karnataka State, South India.SubjectsSchoolchildren (n 1877) aged between 8 and 14 years.ResultsGirls, children of more educated parents and city dwellers were more likely to be overweight (P < 0·001). Younger children aged <10 years and those of lower SES were more likely to perceive themselves as underweight (adjusted OR = 1·63, 95 % CI 1·25, 2·11 and adjusted OR = 1·87, 95 % CI 1·32, 2·65). Underweight children were ten times more likely to overestimate their current weight status, while overweight children were four times more likely to underestimate it. The odds of children of lower SES underestimating their weight, as well as desiring a higher weight, were higher than those of higher-SES children.ConclusionsSES is associated with body weight perception. Underweight children are more likely to overestimate their weight status and overweight children more likely to underestimate it.

Download Full-text

Body weight perception and weight loss practices among Sri Lankan adults

Obesity Research & Clinical Practice ◽

10.1016/j.orcp.2013.05.003 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. e192-e200 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Ranil Jayawardena ◽

Nuala M. Byrne ◽

Mario J. Soares ◽

Prasad Katulanda ◽

Andrew P. Hills

Keyword(s):

Weight Loss ◽

Body Weight ◽

Weight Perception ◽

Sri Lankan ◽

Body Weight Perception

Download Full-text

Body Weight Perception and Quality of Life in Nurses of Nantong City, China: A Cross-Sectional Study

10.21203/rs.3.rs-93142/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Xu Wang ◽

Xiaohua Yang ◽

Hongmei Chu ◽

Chunyan Ge ◽

Jie Yin

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Body Mass Index ◽

Body Weight ◽

Weight Status ◽

Weight Perception ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Body Weight Perception

Abstract Background To explored associations of body weight perception with body mass index and quality of life among nurses.Methods A total of 456 nurses (18-55 years old） were surveyed in a cross-sectional study in a hospital of Nantong City, China. Data on social-demographic characteristics, body mass index, body weight perception and quality of life were collected. Results Our study showed that 40.6% of nurses misconception their weight status. Married nurses were more likely than unmarried to underestimate their weight. Significant disparity in mental health, vitality and mental component summary scores were found in nursers who underestimate their weight compared to those correctly perceived or over or who overestimate their weight. Conclusion Interventions should be designed to help nurse address body weight status misconception, thereby contributing to label themselves and patients as underweight, normal weight, overweight or obese correctly, and in turn, giving reasonable eating habits and physical activities health education.

Download Full-text