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The association between weight perception and BMI among high school students
Nancy D Brener1, Danice K Eaton, Richard Lowry
1Division of Adolescent and School Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA. nad1@cdc.gov
Obesity Research
|December 17, 2004
Summary
Many adolescents misperceive their weight status, with a significant number of overweight students not recognizing their condition. This inaccurate weight perception may hinder efforts toward healthier eating and increased physical activity.
Area of Science:
- Adolescent health
- Public health
- Nutrition science
Background:
- Weight perception significantly influences adolescent nutritional habits and weight management strategies.
- Accurate weight perception is crucial for initiating weight control behaviors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between body weight perception and Body Mass Index (BMI) in a large, diverse adolescent population.
- To compare BMI calculated from measured versus self-reported height and weight.
Main Methods:
- A sample of 2032 high school students (grades 9-12) completed questionnaires on demographics, self-reported height/weight, and weight perception.
- Objective height and weight measurements were taken using a standard protocol to calculate BMI.
Main Results:
- Based on measured BMI, 47.4% of students were overweight or at risk, yet only 22.3% perceived themselves as overweight.
- A substantial portion of overweight adolescents (>20%) inaccurately perceived themselves as underweight, even when using self-reported data.
- Significant discrepancies exist between measured weight status and self-perceived weight among adolescents.
Conclusions:
- Inaccurate weight perception, particularly among overweight adolescents, can impede engagement in weight management behaviors.
- Educational interventions to increase awareness of medical definitions of overweight may improve perception accuracy.
- Enhancing weight perception accuracy could promote healthier eating habits and increased physical activity in adolescents.