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Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Longitudinal concomitants of incorrect weight perception in female and male adolescents
Rasmus Isomaa1, Anna-Lisa Isomaa, Mauri Marttunen
1Department of Social Sciences, Åbo Akademi University-Vasa, Vasa, Finland. rasmus.isomaa@abo.fi
Abstract:
The aim of the present study was to analyse the longitudinal concomitants of incorrect weight perception, depressive symptoms, social anxiety, self-esteem, and eating disorders in adolescents. A prospective follow-up study on 283 female and 312 male adolescents aged 15 comprising questionnaires directed at the whole study population and subsequent personal interviews with adolescents found to be screen-positive for eating disorders, at both baseline and three-year follow-up. Body mass index was combined with weight perception to classify adolescents with incorrect weight perception. Twenty-nine percent of females incorrectly perceived themselves as overweight and 14% of males incorrectly as underweight. Incorrect weight perception was in females related to depressive symptoms, social anxiety, eating disorders, and low self-esteem. Males with incorrect weight perception experienced more social anxiety at the follow-up than their counterparts with correct weight perception. Recognition of incorrect weight perception is important for prevention of depression, social anxiety, and eating disorders.
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