Sex-Related Difference in the Association Between Child Neglect and the Accuracy of Body Weight Perception Among Chinese Primary Schoolchildren

Introduction: Body weight perception (BWP) directly determines weight management behaviors. Although child neglect is a well-established risk factor for managing body weight, little is known about its association with the accuracy of BWP. This study aimed to assess the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between child neglect and BWP accuracy in primary schoolchildren, and explore how these differ based on the sex of the child.Methods: The sample included 1,063 primary schoolchildren (557 boys and 506 girls, aged 8–10 years) from a two-wave observational study between 2018 and 2019 in Wuhan, China. Child neglect and BWP were investigated using self-administered questionnaires. The accuracy of BWP was defined by comparing the BWP and actual body weight, and it was categorized into three groups—consistent, underestimated, and overestimated. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted with fitting child neglect as the independent variable and the accuracy of BWP as the dependent variable.Results: The prevalence of weight misperception was ~44% at baseline (underestimation 40%; overestimation 4%) in Chinese primary schoolchildren. In the cross-sectional analysis, children with a higher level of neglect were more likely to misperceive their body weight. Moreover, there was an apparent sex-related difference that boys who experienced a higher level of neglect significantly reported more underestimation, while girls reported more overestimation. There was no significant longitudinal association between child neglect and the change in BWP accuracy.Conclusions: This study revealed that a higher level of neglect was significantly associated with underestimated BWP in boys and overestimated BWP in girls. The mechanisms of sex-related difference and whether child neglect is involved in the change in BWP, merit further investigations.

Do the body weight perception and body mass index affect the participation of exercise?

Study aim: In this study, it is aimed to find out the exercise preferences based on the Body Mass Index (BMI) and Body Weight Perception (BWP), and to determine the consistency between BMI and BWP calculated via the self-reporting method. Material and methods: The study was conducted total of 297 volunteers, included 174 females (Mage = 27.19 ± 9.94 years) and 123 males (Mage = 26.08 ± 10.15 years), who were members of the physical activity center. The height and body weight values were obtained based on the self-reports. BWP was assessed by asking “how do you describe your weight?” As a statistical analysis, the Pearson chi-square test and Kappa statistics were used. Results: It was determined that overweight/obese female prefered most the strength exercises, whereas, overweight/obese men, according to both methods, preferred the different kind of exercises (p < 0.05). When the mutual consistency of the BWP and BMI methods was compared, “average” level conformity was found in female, and “weak” level conformity was found in male (Female: κ = 0.48; p < 0.000; Male: κ = 0.21; p < 0.001). Conclusion: It could be said that the type and application protocol of the exercise has been related with the frequency and duration of the exercise for both of the methods. Besides, it could be said that there was a higher consistency among female participants at the level of participating to the exercise and they had similar exercise preference, frequency and duration.

Is Calorie Labeling on Menus Related to Weight Disturbances among Females in Saudi Arabia?

Calorie labeling is a recent initiative from the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) aimed to reduce the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) by influencing people to make healthier food choices when they eat out and can also help people with weight disturbances to be more aware of their calorie intake. The present study aimed to investigate the association between the use of calorie labeling on restaurant menus, calorie intake, weight concern, body weight perception, and weight-control behaviors among young women. A quasi-experimental study was conducted among female students at a university restaurant. Participants were assigned to two groups: food menus with (experimental group) and without (control group) calorie labeling. The logistic regression model assessed the predictors of using calorie information separately for the experimental and control groups. Calorie labeling had a significant effect on reducing calorie consumption in the experimental group by 59 calories compared to the control group. The higher weight concern in the control group (OR = 0.410; 95% CI 0.230–0.730; P ≤ 0.002 ) was a predictor for using calorie information. The experimental group had higher weight concern (OR = 1.530; 95% CI 1.107–2.115; P ≤ 0.01 ) and body weight perception (OR = 4.230; 95% CI 1.084–6.517; P ≤ 0.038 ) and lower calorie intake (OR = 1.005; 95% CI 1.001–6.517; P ≤ 0.008 ) predictors for using calorie information. Weight-control behaviors did not significantly predict the use of calorie information in the groups. Calorie labeling might increase the weight disturbances among young females. More investigation is needed across various populations to gain a better understanding of calorie labeling as an effective food choice among people who are vulnerable to weight disturbances or already have weight disorders.

Body weight perception, knowledge, practices and associated factors regarding weight reduction: A cross sectional study of treatment seeking obese young adults in Sri Lanka

Background: Obesity and its’ comorbidities in young adults are emerging health concerns. Obesity is a well-known risk factor for developing cardiovascular diseases, type -2 diabetes, carcinomas, gallbladder disease, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, and gynecological complications. Young adulthood is considered the best time period to introduce weight control interventions as the established lifestyle behaviors may persist throughout life. Aims and Objectives: The present study assessed self-perception of body weight, knowledge and practices on obesity and weight reduction and their associated factors in a sample of treatment seeking obese young adults. Materials and Methods: Two-hundred and sixty-one obese (BMI ≥ 25 kg m-2) young (18-35 years) adults attending an out-patient nutrition clinic of a teaching hospital in Sri Lanka were studied. An interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect demographic data and information on body weight perception and, knowledge and practices on obesity and weight reduction. Weight, height and waist circumference were measured. Results: The mean (±SD) BMI of the participants was 29.0 (±3.6) kg m-2. Only 16.1% precisely perceived themselves as ‘obese’ and increased BMI was only significant predictor of accurate body weight perception (OR=1.23; 95% CI=1.07-1.47; p=0.003). Only 49.0% reported obesity as a disease and 46.0 % and 27.2% that it predisposes to stroke and carcinoma respectively. Although 86.2% have attempted weight reduction, only 33.8% sought professional advice. Diet control was the most common weight reduction strategy (73.1%) and among them 33.3% combined with exercises. One fourth (n=56) relied on green tea for weight reduction and meal skipping was reported in 52.9%. Conclusion: Significant body weight misperception was reported in lower BMI categories. The overall knowledge regarding obesity and weight reduction was satisfactory though not optimum. Diet control with or without physical exercises was the most popular method of weight reduction.

Body weight perception outweighs body weight when predicting shame, criticism, depression and anxiety for lower BMI range and higher BMI range adults

This study examined the relationship between body weight shame, self-criticism and mental health for individuals across body weight ranges. In total 1695 participants completed a series of online measures and we used Structural Equation Modelling, to assess for the relationship between weight, perceived weight, social rank (social comparison, body weight shame, submissiveness) self-criticism (inadequate and self-hatred) and anxious and depressive symptoms. Results indicated that perceived body weight is more important than actual body weight in predicting body weight shame. Importantly, individuals classified in higher BMI ranges rely more on the self-hatred form of self-criticism which significantly predicts anxious and depressive symptoms.

Differences in Body Weight Perception Among Nutrition and Non-nutrition Students Enrolled in a General Nutrition Course at the University of Rhode Island

Objectives Research shows that students in healthcare fields have distorted perceptions of their bodies, specifically regarding their weight status. Nutrition majors are important to consider, given their future careers require them to assess others’ weight statuses and provide relevant diet recommendations. The main aims of this secondary analysis were to compare accuracy of nutrition versus non-nutrition majors’ body weight perception to their measured body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage (BFP). It was hypothesized that nutrition majors will more accurately classify their weight relative to their BMI and BFP compared to non-nutrition majors due to their knowledge of weight classifications. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 188 non-nutrition (77% female; BMI 24.14 ± 5.46; BFP 26.30 ± 9.70) and 108 nutrition (83% female; BMI 23.78 ± 3.75; BFP 25.45 ± 8.39) majors enrolled in a general nutrition class and completed a nutrition assessment survey that included the multiple-choice question: “How would YOU describe your current weight?”. Categories were underweight, healthy weight, or overweight. Height was measured by a calibrated stadiometer. Weight and body composition were assessed by In-Body 770. BMI and BFP were categorized as underweight, healthy weight, or overweight according to the In-Body reference guidelines. Difference in accuracy of nutrition versus non-nutrition majors’ body weight perceptions were analyzed by independent t-tests. Data are expressed as means ± standard deviations. Results Of the 296 students, 28% misperceived their weight status relative to BMI and 40% misperceived their weight status relative to BFP. Of the 28%, 55 students perceived their weight as lower than (30% nutrition) and 25 students perceived their weight as higher than (52% nutrition) their measured BMI. Of the 40%, 86 students perceived their weight as lower than (24% nutrition) and 31 students perceived their weight as higher than (48% nutrition) their measured BFP. Nutrition majors had more accurate perceptions of their weight status relative to measured BFP than non-majors (−0.06 ± 0.58; −.27 ± 0.62; P = 0.004). Conclusions When perceptions were inaccurate, most students perceived themselves as a healthier weight than their measured BMI and BFP indicated. Nutrition majors’ perceptions relative to BFP were more accurate than non-majors. Funding Sources None.

Body Weight Perception and Health-Related Behaviors Among U.S. Adolescents: Mediating Effects of Body Weight Control Behaviors

This study examined mediating effects of body weight control behaviors in the relationship between body weight perception and health-related behaviors among 11,458 U.S. adolescents from the 2010 National Youth Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey. Parallel multiple mediation analysis was performed for the secondary data analysis. Nearly one third of adolescents (32.5%) had overweight or obesity; one quarter (25.0%) perceived themselves as slightly overweight and 5.1% thought they were very overweight. More girls (58.6%) had tried to lose weight than boys (32.3%), while boys were more physically active than girls. Healthy and unhealthy weight control behaviors significantly mediated the relationship between adolescents’ body weight perception and health-related behaviors (physical activity and screen time). Teachers and parents should help adolescents have accurate weight perception and utilize reliable and healthy weight control strategies. Future studies should consider the intercorrelated relationships among adolescents’ perceptions and behaviors regarding weight to provide successful weight control intervention programs.