Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination

Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination

Humans are very diverse and although we share many similarities, we also have many differences. The social groups we belong to help form our identities (Tajfel, 1974). These differences may be difficult for some people to reconcile, which may lead to prejudice toward people who are different. Prejudice is a negative attitude and feeling toward an individual based solely on one’s membership in a particular social group (Allport, 1954; Brown, 2010). Prejudice is common against people who are...

Surveys

Surveys

Often, psychologists develop surveys as a means of gathering data. Surveys are lists of questions to be answered by research participants, and can be delivered as paper-and-pencil questionnaires, administered electronically, or conducted verbally. Generally, the survey itself can be completed in a short time, and the ease of administering a survey makes it easy to collect data from a large number of people.

Ethnic Identity within a Larger Culture

Ethnic Identity within a Larger Culture

Adolescents from ethnic minority backgrounds face a multifaceted journey in forming their identities, shaped by the intersections of cultural expectations and personal exploration. For these adolescents, identity formation involves not only typical developmental challenges but also navigating the perceptions and attitudes of the majority culture. As they grow, adolescents in ethnic minority groups often become increasingly aware of stereotypes, social biases, and discrimination, all of which...

Regression Toward the Mean

Regression Toward the Mean

Regression toward the mean (“RTM”) is a phenomenon in which extremely high or low values—for example, and individual’s blood pressure at a particular moment—appear closer to a group’s average upon remeasuring. Although this statistical peculiarity is the result of random error and chance, it has been problematic across various medical, scientific, financial and psychological applications. In particular, RTM, if not taken into account, can interfere when researchers try to extrapolate results...

Sources of Self-Esteem III: Social Comparison

Sources of Self-Esteem III: Social Comparison

Social comparison plays a fundamental role in the evaluation of personal success and self-worth. Rather than assessing our achievements in isolation, we interpret their significance relative to personal goals and critically in comparison to the performance of others. A grade of B in a mathematics exam might elicit pride if one's expectation was a C, yet result in disappointment if an A was anticipated or if peers achieved superior results. These comparative evaluations illustrate how both...

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is a complex and severe eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of weight gain, an unrelenting pursuit of thinness, and a distorted body image. It often leads to dangerously low body weight relative to an individual's age and height. This disorder is marked by significant physical and psychological consequences, making it one of the most life-threatening psychiatric illnesses.
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

No Significant Change in Childhood Obesity.

Pediatrics·2026

Same author

Population-Level Changes in Folate, Iodine, and Vitamin D Status over More than 20 Years: Biomarker Data from the Cross-Sectional National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 1999-2000 through August 2021-August 2023).

Current developments in nutrition·2026

Same author

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 2026 Nutrition Report Presents Data for 131 Biomarkers from the Cross-Sectional National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 1999-August 2023).

Current developments in nutrition·2026

Same author

Obesity Prevalence Among U.S. Adults With and Without Disabilities.

Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.)·2026

Same author

Trends in the prevalence of obesity among U.S. active component service members and civilians, 2013-2023.

MSMR·2026

Same author

Anthropometric Reference Data for Children and Adults: United States, August 2021-August 2023

Vital & health statistics. Series 3, Analytical and epidemiological studies·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study

Published on: February 2, 2017

Racial/ethnic differences in weight perception.

Rashida R Dorsey¹, Mark S Eberhardt, Cynthia L Ogden

¹National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hyattsville, Maryland, USA. rrdorsey@gmail.com

Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.)

|January 17, 2009

Summary

Many adults misperceive their weight status, particularly racial/ethnic minorities and those with less education. Addressing this weight misperception is key to tackling obesity in the United States.

More Related Videos

Measuring Oral Fatty Acid Thresholds, Fat Perception, Fatty Food Liking, and Papillae Density in Humans

Measuring Oral Fatty Acid Thresholds, Fat Perception, Fatty Food Liking, and Papillae Density in Humans

Published on: June 4, 2014

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study

Published on: February 2, 2017

Measuring Oral Fatty Acid Thresholds, Fat Perception, Fatty Food Liking, and Papillae Density in Humans

Measuring Oral Fatty Acid Thresholds, Fat Perception, Fatty Food Liking, and Papillae Density in Humans

Published on: June 4, 2014

Area of Science:

Public Health
Epidemiology
Health Disparities

Background:

Weight misperception is a significant public health concern.
Understanding prevalence and associated factors is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

To estimate the prevalence of weight misperception in US adults.
To examine the relationship between weight misperception and race/ethnicity, education, and sex.

Main Methods:

Analysis of data from 17,270 adults (aged >=20 years) in the 1999-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
Categorization of Body Mass Index (BMI) into underweight, healthy weight, overweight, and obese.
Comparison of self-reported weight perception against measured BMI.

Main Results:

31.7% of healthy weight, 38.1% of overweight, and 8.1% of obese adults misperceived their weight status.
Obese men and women from racial/ethnic minority groups and those with lower educational attainment showed higher odds of weight misperception.
Significant associations found between misperception and non-Hispanic Black, Mexican American status, and lower education levels.

Conclusions:

Weight misperception is highly prevalent across US adults.
Racial/ethnic minorities, males, and individuals with lower education levels are disproportionately affected.
Interventions to increase awareness of healthy weight may aid in obesity reduction efforts.