Activity and Weight Misperception among Overweight and Obese US Adults

Engaging in some exercise is associated with weight misperception (ie, overweight and obese participants self-reporting being normal weight or underweight) among adults. Less is known about associations between various types of activity with weight misperception. We examined associations between activity (moderate-vigorous leisure-time, work- and transportation-related physical activity, and sedentary activity) and weight misperception.

We used cross-sectional data from 7992 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2010 participants aged 20+ years with a ≥ 25 body mass index. Logistic regression models were used to estimate activity-weight misperception associations.

Individuals who performed some activity, versus none, were less likely to misperceive their weight (Odds Ratio [OR]: 0.78; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 0.66, 0.93). Those who engaged in high levels of transportation activity were more likely to misperceive their weight (OR: 1.29; 95% CI: 1.09, 1.54). Individuals who engaged in medium and high levels of sedentary activity, versus low, were less likely to misperceive their weight (OR: 0.65; 95% CI: 0.57, 0.75 and OR: 0.51; 95% CI: 0.43, 0.61, respectively). Associations varied by sex.

Variation in associations of various types of activity with weight misperception should be considered when developing health promotion programs.