Abstract
ObjectivesWe evaluated the association between BMI and body weight perception in a sample of children and adolescents.MethodsA cross-sectional school-based study was conducted among 7–18 year-olds (N = 9727) from 4 districts in Jilin City, China. We calculated BMI from measured weight and height and assessed body weight perception using a single questionnaire item. We analyzed these data using SPSS version 20.0.ResultsApproximately 19.8% of these youth perceived themselves as underweight, 57.8% as normal weight, and 22.4% as overweight. In reality, 4.9% were underweight, 64.3% were normal weight, and 30.8% were overweight. Furthermore, approximately 66.4% of these Chinese youth correctly perceived their body image, 28.2% underestimated their true body image, and 5.4% overestimated their weight status. Girls were more likely than boys to overestimate their weight (χ2 = 135.4, p < 0.05). Adolescents 13–18 years old were more likely than children 7–12 years old to overestimate their weight (χ2 = 248.4, p < 0.05). Senior high school students were the most likely to overestimate their weight (χ2 = 297.6, p < 0.05). Kappa tests revealed significant differences in consistency analysis of BMI and body weight perception (Kappa = 0.352, p < 0.05). Kappa < 0.4, the consistency of BMI and body weight perception was poor.ConclusionsA mismatch existed between BMI and body weight perception among these children and adolescents. Thus, schools and parents should take steps to help them improve weight management and overall health awareness.
Highlights
Adolescence is a crucial time in the profound development of physical and psychological health [1]
A mismatch existed between body mass index (BMI) and body weight perception among these children and adolescents
A previous study has concluded that body weight perception is a better predictor of body management and related behaviors than body mass index (BMI), ie, actual weight status [6]
Summary
Adolescence is a crucial time in the profound development of physical and psychological health [1]. A previous study has concluded that body weight perception is a better predictor of body management and related behaviors than body mass index (BMI), ie, actual weight status [6]. In both Eastern and Western countries, some related studies have shown that the correlation of body weight perception and BMI is relatively poor [3,7,8]; many children and adolescents are unable to perceive their weight status accurately. Adverse psychological consequences seem to be more strongly associated with body weight perception, regardless of BMI [16,17]
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