Weight (Mis)perceptions and Sexual Behavior Among U.S. Emerging Adults

Abstract

The purpose of this paper was to examine the relationship between weight misperception, age at first intercourse, and lifetime number of sex partners. We used Wave III of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health ( N = 11,522; 53.7% female), collected in 2001–2002. Results show that men who underestimate their weight have more lifetime sexual partners compared to men who accurately assess their weight. Women who underestimate their weight had fewer sexual partners and a higher age at first intercourse compared to women who accurately assess their weight. White participants who overestimated their weight had an earlier age of first intercourse, African Americans who underestimated their weight had more sexual partners, and weight misperception was not related to sexual behaviors among Hispanic and Asian participants. These findings suggest that weight underestimation’s relationship to sexual behaviors may differ by gender and race.