Ashlesha Datar1, Paul J Chung2. 1. Center for Economic and Social Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, Calif; RAND Health, The RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, Calif. Electronic address: adatar@usc.edu. 2. Departments of Pediatrics and Health Policy and Management, University of California, Los Angeles, Calif; Children's Discovery & Innovation Institute, Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA, Los Angeles, Calif; RAND Health, The RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, Calif.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe the accuracy of weight perceptions in a nationally representative sample of US 8th graders, its relationship with weight control intentions (WCI), and the relationship of weight misperceptions and WCI with diet and activity behaviors. METHODS: Data analyzed came from the 8th grade wave (2006-2007) of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Kindergarten Class, a nationally representative sample. Body mass index was calculated from height and weight measurements for 7800 8th graders (mean age 14.3 years). Measured weight status was categorized into underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese using the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's age- and sex-specific growth charts. Self-reported weight status was compared with measured weight status to classify adolescents into accurate perceivers, overestimators, and underestimators. Multivariate logistic and negative binomial regression models were estimated for binary and count data outcome variables, respectively. RESULTS: Overall, 42.1% of adolescents misperceived their weight status: 35.3% underestimated and 6.8% overestimated their weight status. Among overweight or obese adolescents, 68.4% misperceived their weight status; 35% of underweight adolescents overestimated their weight status. Among normal-weight adolescents, 8.5% overestimated and 18.5% underestimated their weight. Compared to accurate perception, both overestimation and underestimation of weight status were associated with greater likelihood of inappropriate WCI, but only underestimation was associated with unhealthy diet and activity behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Weight misperception was a common problem among US adolescents from all weight categories and was associated with inappropriate WCI. Future research should examine how adolescents' weight perceptions are formed and whether reducing misperceptions may improve behaviors.
OBJECTIVE: To describe the accuracy of weight perceptions in a nationally representative sample of US 8th graders, its relationship with weight control intentions (WCI), and the relationship of weight misperceptions and WCI with diet and activity behaviors. METHODS: Data analyzed came from the 8th grade wave (2006-2007) of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Kindergarten Class, a nationally representative sample. Body mass index was calculated from height and weight measurements for 7800 8th graders (mean age 14.3 years). Measured weight status was categorized into underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese using the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's age- and sex-specific growth charts. Self-reported weight status was compared with measured weight status to classify adolescents into accurate perceivers, overestimators, and underestimators. Multivariate logistic and negative binomial regression models were estimated for binary and count data outcome variables, respectively. RESULTS: Overall, 42.1% of adolescents misperceived their weight status: 35.3% underestimated and 6.8% overestimated their weight status. Among overweight or obese adolescents, 68.4% misperceived their weight status; 35% of underweight adolescents overestimated their weight status. Among normal-weight adolescents, 8.5% overestimated and 18.5% underestimated their weight. Compared to accurate perception, both overestimation and underestimation of weight status were associated with greater likelihood of inappropriate WCI, but only underestimation was associated with unhealthy diet and activity behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Weight misperception was a common problem among US adolescents from all weight categories and was associated with inappropriate WCI. Future research should examine how adolescents' weight perceptions are formed and whether reducing misperceptions may improve behaviors.
Authors: Andrea L Deierlein; Alomi Malkan; Jaqueline Litvak; Niyati Parekh Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2019-03-19 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Dimitrios Poulimeneas; Maria G Grammatikopoulou; Leonidas Dimitrakopoulos; Emma Kotsias; Dina Gerothanasi; Efstratios R Kiranas; Maria Tsigga Journal: Int J Pediatr Adolesc Med Date: 2016-09-06