Abstract
Inaccurate weight perceptions may lead to unhealthy weight control practices among normal weight adolescents and to a greater risk of adult obesity and related morbidities for overweight adolescents. To examine which U.S. adolescents are at risk of these outcomes, we examine gender and racial/ethnic differences in weight perception inaccuracy. This is the first study of weight perception inaccuracy to include Latino/a and Asian American adolescents. Among the 12,789 Wave II participants of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, we estimate multivariate models that reveal how gender, race/ethnicity, and clinical weight categories predict weight perception inaccuracy. Relative to boys, girls have lower odds of underestimating their weight and greater odds of overestimating their weight. In particular, among overweight and obese adolescents, girls are more accurate than boys, but among normal weight adolescents, boys are more accurate. Compared with Whites, African Americans are more likely to underestimate their weight, particularly among overweight girls and obese boys. Overall and particularly among girls and normal weight adolescents, African Americans are less likely to overestimate their weight than their White counterparts. Finally, Asian American girls are more likely to underestimate their weight than White girls. These findings have important implications for identifying and intervening with adolescents at the greatest risk of long-term weight problems, weight-related morbidity, and unhealthy weight control practices.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.