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Updated: Jul 2, 2026
09:36
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Weight Perception Varies by Local Peer Body Size Norms Among US Adolescents.
Jennifer M Cullin1,2,3, Meagan M Guilfoyle1
1Department of Anthropology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA.
Summary
Adolescent weight perception decreases as local peer body size norms increase. This trend was observed across sexes and was most pronounced in mid-to-upper body mass index ranges.
Area of Science:
- Biocultural studies
- Adolescent health
- Social epidemiology
Background:
- Biological normalcy framework examines statistical norms of biological traits and population-level understandings of biology.
- Investigates how weight perception relates to local peer body size norms (BSNorm) in US adolescents.
- Utilizes a biocultural lens to understand adolescent weight perception.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if adolescent weight perception varies based on local peer body size norms (BSNorm).
- To analyze the relationship between weight perception and BSNorm in a nationally representative sample of US adolescents.
- To explore sex and BMI category differences in this relationship.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey data.
- Weight perception categorized as 'underweight,' 'about right,' or 'overweight.'
- Local peer BSNorm calculated as the proportion of peers with BMI ≥ 85th percentile; linear regression used for analysis, controlling for covariates.
Main Results:
- A negative association found between BSNorm and weight perception in the full sample (β = -0.60, p = 0.0005) and both sexes.
- The association was strongest among adolescents in mid-range (β = -0.58, p < 0.0001) and mid-upper-range (β = -0.76, p = 0.037) BMI categories.
- Significant associations observed in specific sex-BMI subgroups, but not in the upper-range BMI category.
Conclusions:
- Increased local peer body size norms are associated with decreased weight perception among adolescents.
- This relationship is consistent across males and females.
- The effect is primarily driven by adolescents within the mid- and upper-mid body mass index ranges.
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