Self-perception Of Body Weight Research Articles

Association and potential mediators between socioeconomic status and childhood obesity in China: findings from a national cohort study

ObjectiveSocioeconomic status (SES) is associated with childhood obesity, but the underlying factors remain unknown. This study aimed to identify mediators that may explain SES disparities in childhood obesity in China. MethodsNationally representative longitudinal data from the China Education Panel Survey of 11 019 children (13.03 ± 0.79) collected from 2013‒2014 to 2016‒2017 academic years. Overweight/obesity was defined using Chinese national body mass index cut-points. Principal component analysis was used to convert the four SES indicators (maternal and paternal education, and occupation) into one comprehensive variable. Mediation analysis for SES disparities in childhood obesity was conducted using structure equation models. ResultsThe prevalence of overweight/obesity was 12.8%, and was higher in boys than in girls (17.8% vs. 7.6%, P < 0.001) at baseline. Among boys, relative risk (RR) of obesity was 1.23 (95% CI: 1.09 to 1.40, P < 0.001) for per unit change in SES. There was no significant association between obesity and SES among girls. Mediation analyses showed that among boys, birth weight, being the only child in the family and children's self-perceived weight status mediated 70.0% of the effects of SES on obesity. No mediation effect was detected in girls. ConclusionsChinese boys are more likely to be overweight or obese than girls. SES may impact childhood obesity through birth weight, being the only child in the family and children's self-perceived body weight status in boys, but not in girls. More attention should be made to address childhood obesity in high SES families among boys. Interventions targeting at these mediators are needed.

Exploring The Relationship Between Body Mass Index (BMI), Body Weight Perception, And Weight Change Behaviour Among University Students in Urban Gujarat, India: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: In the context of the rising trend of overweight and obesity, young people are more concerned about their weight. This study investigates the association between measured Body Mass Index (BMI), self-perception of body weight and weight change behavior among university students. Methods: This cross-sectional study assessed a sample of 415 university students aged 18-23 years residing in urban areas of Anand. Measures included weight, height, BMI, body weight perception and weight change behavior. The data were analyzed through descriptive statistics, the student’s t-test and Chi-square test. Results: About 36.1% of the participants misclassified their weight category. More women than men felt overweight in relation to their actual body shape. Among normal-weight or underweight BMI participants, 44.4% of females and 31.8% of males were inappropriately trying to lose weight. Conclusions: The study showed a higher prevalence of weight perception and inappropriate weight change behaviour. It also observed that the correct perception of body weight influences the willingness to lose or gain weight. It is important to consider these issues while designing a public health campaign targeting obesity and healthy lifestyles.

Misperception of body weight and associated socioeconomic and health-related factors among Korean female adults: A nationwide population-based study.

Misperception of body weight is associated with various psychological and health problems, including obesity, eating disorders, and mental problems. To date, female-specific risk factors, including socioeconomic or health-related lifestyle features, or their indicative performance for the misperception in Asian women according to age groups remain unknown. To investigate the prevalence and associated risk factors for the mismatch in self-perceived body weight and evaluated the classification performance of the identified risk factors across age groups in female adults. We analyzed data of 22,121 women (age 19-97 years) from the 7-year Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey dataset (2010-2016). We evaluated self-perceived body weight of the participants with their actual weight using the body mass index cut-off and grouped them by age: early adulthood (19-45), middle adulthood (46-59), and late adulthood (≥60). Logistic regression was conducted in each age group based on their weight misperception. The classification performance of the identified risk factors was evaluated with a bagging tree ensemble model with 5-fold cross-validation. 22.2% (n=4,916) of the study participants incorrectly perceived their body weight, of which 14.1% (n=3,110) and 8.2% (n=1,806) were in the underestimated and overestimated groups. Among the age groups, the proportion of participants who misperceived their body weight was highest in late adulthood (31.8%) and the rate of overestimation was highest in early adulthood (14.1%). We found that a lower education level, absence of menopause, perception of themselves as unhealthy, and efforts for weight management were significantly associated with the overall misperception (overestimation or underestimation) of body weight across age groups. Based on the identified risk factors, the highest area under the receiver operating curve (AUROC) and accuracy of the best classification model (weight overestimation in all participants) were 0.758 and 0.761, respectively. Adding various associated lifestyle factors to the baseline model resulted in an average increase of 0.159 and 0.135 in AUROC for classifying weight underestimation and overestimation, respectively. Age, education level, marital status, absence of menopause, amount of exercise, efforts for weight management (gain, loss, and maintenance), and self-perceived health status were significantly associated with the mismatch of body weight.

Self-Perception of Body Weight in Schoolchildren in Northeastern Mexico.

Mexican schoolchildren are among the individuals most affected by obesity in the world. It has been observed that body-image dissatisfaction has increased in children. We evaluated their body weight perception and its relationship with actual weight; we compared this variable on three different scales according to age and sex and determined the sensitivity and specificity of these scales. This cross-sectional study was conducted with students from public and private schools in Northeastern Mexico. Boys and girls aged 6-12 years (n = 533) were included in this study. To assess the body weight perception, the following scales were used: (A) Collins (figure rating scale), (B) Eckstein (parents' perceptions of their child's weight and health scale), and (C) Truby and Paxton (children's body image scale). Agreement was evaluated using the Cohen's kappa test, determining the sensitivity and specificity. Girls and children aged 10-12 years were more likely to perceive themselves adequately (their self-perception corresponds to the figure that indicates their weight status). The children showed increased body-image distortion in the three scales. In terms of sensitivity and specificity, children with overweight or obesity were more precisely identified in scale A, whereas a healthy weight was more clearly identified in scale C.

COVID-19, body weight and the neighbourhood: food system dimensions and consumption associated with changes in body weight of Peruvian adults during first wave lockdowns

ObjectiveThe objective of this study is to assess changes in the dimensions of the food system and consumption associated with body weight variations during the first month’s lockdown in Peruvian...

Weight Status and Mental Well-Being Among Adolescents: The Mediating Role of Self-Perceived Body Weight. A Cross-National Survey

PurposeOverweight and obesity are associated with poor mental health in adolescents. However, little is known about whether the influence of overweight and obesity on mental well-being is mediated by self-perceived body weight. Exploring the mechanisms underlying the relationships between obesity and mental well-being is of interest to policy makers and others working in the field of adolescent health. MethodsThis study was based on nationally representative data from adolescents (age 15 years) who participated in the 2017/2018 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study (47 countries, N = 76,998). Mixed regression models that included gender and socioeconomic status as covariates were used to identify associations between weight status and mental well-being (life satisfaction and subjective health complaints) and to explore whether self-perceived body weight (feeling too thin or too fat) has a mediating effect. Associations between weight status, self-perceived weight, and mental well-being were further assessed country by country. ResultsSelf-perceived body weight mediated the observed associations between overweight or obesity and mental well-being. Perceiving one's body weight as “too thin” or “too fat” was associated with poorer mental well-being, regardless of weight status. Self-perceived body weight varied by gender, socioeconomic status, and country. DiscussionSelf-perceived body weight may explain, to a greater extent than body mass index, variation in mental well-being among adolescents. These results are important to policy makers, clinicians, and others targeting adolescent health.

Perceptions of weight status and energy balance behaviors among patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Weight loss through behavioral modification is central to treating non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). To achieve this, patients need to accurately self-perceive their health behaviors. We aimed to identify predictors of concordance between self-perception and objective measures of body weight, physical activity (PA) and dietary behaviors. We used data from the Harris County NAFLD Cohort, an ongoing prospective study in a regional safety-net healthcare system. Patients completed self-administered baseline questionnaires on demographics, diet, PA, and self-perceptions. We assessed concordance between actual and self-perceived body weight and energy-balance behaviors. Multivariable logistic regression identified predictors of concordance. Patients (n = 458; average age 46.5 years) were 90% Hispanic and 76% female. PA and fruit/vegetable intake guidelines were met among 37% and 9%, respectively. Most (89%) overweight/obese patients accurately perceived themselves as such. However, 41% of insufficiently-active and 34% of patients not meeting fruit/vegetable intake guidelines inaccurately self-perceived their behaviors as “just right”. Women were 3 times more likely to accurately self-perceive weight status (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 3.24; 95% CI 1.68–6.25) but 51% less likely to accurately self-perceive PA levels than men (AOR 0.49; 95% CI 0.29–0.81). Lower acculturation was associated with higher odds of accurate PA self-perception. Patients with prediabetes or diabetes vs normoglycemia were more likely to accurately self-perceive their fruit/vegetable intake. Most NAFLD patients accurately self-perceived their body weight. A third or more of those not meeting fruit/vegetable intake or PA guidelines had inaccurate perceptions about their behaviors. Our findings highlight key areas to target in NAFLD-specific behavioral modification programs.

Relationship between discretionary food intake and sex, body image, health, and geographical remoteness among Indigenous Australian adolescents.

Determine the discretionary energy intake of Indigenous Australian adolescents and its relationship with sex, body image, health, and geographical remoteness. Cross-sectional data from the 2012 to 2013 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (n= 264, 15-17 years). Dietary data were collected using an Automated Multiple-Pass Method, anthropometric data by trained interviewers; self-perceived measures of body weight, level of satisfaction with current weight, and self-assessed health were self-reported. General linear models were used to investigate predictors. Discretionary energy intake contributed 35.4% and 54.2% of total energy intake for males and females, respectively, primarily from the sub-groups: soft drinks; pastries; potatoes; sugar, honey and syrups; cordials; and potato snacks. Discretionary energy intake was associated with higher energy intake (p< 0.001) and self-perceived body weight (p= 0.022), while sex had significant interactions with self-assessed health (psex = 0.005), satisfaction with current weight (psex < 0.001), and geographical remoteness (psex = 0.007). Contribution of discretionary energy intake to total energy intake was greatest for males with an increased risk of metabolic complications (50% vs. 37%; p> 0.05), those who perceived themselves to be overweight (56% vs. 27%; p< 0.001), and those who were dissatisfied with their weight (56% vs. 19%; p< 0.001), compared to females. No differences were found by dieting status, risk of metabolic complications, and under-reporting of energy intake. Discretionary energy intake was excessive among Indigenous Australian adolescents and had relationships with self-perceived health, weight satisfaction, and geographical remoteness, which was moderated by sex. To successfully reduce discretionary food intake among Indigenous Australian adolescents, further research is required to develop sex specific and culturally appropriate strategies.

Agreement between self-perception of body image and nutritional status in a Chilean population

Introduction: obesity is a public health problem. No significant decrease in the prevalence of obesity has been globally observed. A better understanding of the factors that can influence obesity is necessary, one of them being self-perception of body weight. Objective: to determine the agreement between self-perception of body image and nutritional status in a Chilean population. Methods: an analytical cross-sectional study was carried out based on the Chilean National Health Survey 2016-2017. Nutritional status was measured by body mass index (BMI) and self-perceived body weight. Agreement was estimated by the kappa index and weighted kappa index. These indices were specified according to sociodemographic variable. Results: the total number of participants was 5483, with 51 % (95 % CI: 48.7-53.5) corresponding to women. Mean age was 43.2 years (95 % CI: 42.4-44.0). The kappa index showed a low concordance (kappa, 0.194; 95 % CI: 0.177 to 0.211) among women, people from rural areas, and subjects with fewer years of education. The global weighted kappa was 0.325; 95 % CI (0.168-0.482). Conclusions: underestimation of nutritional status can lead to negation of the problem generated by excess body weight. Recognizing nutritional status is a critical stage to initiate behavior changes and start having healthy eating habits. More than half of Chileans present distortion of body image, prevailing underestimation of body weight.

Food Away From Home and Self-Perceived Gastrointestinal Health.

Dietary behavior is a critical lifestyle factor affecting health. This study aimed to investigate food away from home (FAFH) and its effect on gastrointestinal (GI) health. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted with 300 participants at a hospital in Liouying, Taiwan. The survey collected demographic information and data on FAFH and GI health. The association of GI health with FAFH consumption behavior was significant (t-test, p < 0.05). Bodyweight status was associated with age (F = 5.01, p = 0.01), dietary situation (F = 1.96, p = 0.04), number of meals (F = 1.85, p = 0.03), dietary preferences (F = 2.84, p = 0), reasons for FAFH (F = 1.86, p = 0.02), FAFH types (F = 2.01, p = 0), and outcomes associated with FAFH (F = 2.51, p = 0). Gastrointestinal condition was associated with the number of meals (F = 2.55, p = 0), the level of activity after meals (F = 2.16, p = 0.02), and FAFH type (F = 1.48, p = 0.04). The results indicated that the participants aged 20–40 years had more problems related to their self-perceived body weight status than those aged 41–50 years. The results of this study clarify the FAFH among people in Taiwan and the effects on GI health and may serve as a reference for relevant behavioral research in food and health studies.

Self-perception of Body Weight and Physical Activity with its Relationship to Actual Body Weight among Students in a Medical College: An Analytical Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Obesity and sedentary life style are becoming more prevalent among the student generation. Every human being has a very good insight about the outlook. But many are not able to maintain what they perceive. During this survey, the students get a vivid picture of their real body weight and their perception of their body structure. Aim: To compare the self-perceived body weight with actual body weight among medical students and to analyse the perceptions and practice of medical student’s related to physical activity. Materials and Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study included 400 medical students. Self-perceived body image was assessed using Silhouette matching technique. Students represented the figure how they currently look (Feel) and how they actually wanted to look (Ideal). The Feel minus Ideal Discrepancy (FID) score was noted. Actual body weight and height were measured. Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated using the Quetelet formula- weight(Kg)/height(metres)2. Perceptions and practice of physical activity were assessed using Exercise Benefits/Barrier Scale (EBBS). Comparison of perceived and actual body weight was done by Student’s Independent t-test and Pearson correlation test using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17.0. Results: The actual BMI and perceived BMI showed strong positive correlation (r= 0.726; p=0.0001). Males had high exercise benefit scores (92) when compared with females (86) (p=0.0002). The students had high total score (benefit score plus barrier score); males had 127 and females had 124 (p=0.003) and high benefit/barrier ratio. Conclusion: Actual BMI and self-perceived BMI were well correlated indicating participant’s awareness of their body image. Male participants were more actively involved in physical activity and more concerned about maintaining their body weight. All students had higher benefit scores which is a favourable sign towards a healthy and active physical life.

Low Self-Perception of Malnutrition in Older Hospitalized Patients.

BackgroundStudies focusing on self-perception of nutritional status in older hospitalized patients are lacking. We aimed to examine the self-perception of body weight and nutritional status among older hospitalized patients compared to their actual body weight and nutritional status based on medical assessment.Materials and MethodsThis observational cross-sectional study investigated 197 older participants (mean age 82.2±6.8 years, 61% women) who were consecutively admitted to the geriatric acute care ward. Body weight status and nutritional status were assessed using WHO-BMI classification and Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form (MNA-SF), respectively. Self-perceived body weight status and nutritional status were assessed with a standardized questionnaire. A follow-up was performed with a short telephone interview after three months.ResultsAccording to MNA-SF, 49% and 35% were at risk of malnutrition and malnourished, respectively. There was no agreement between self-perceived nutritional status and objective nutritional status according to MNA-SF (Kappa: 0.06). A slight agreement was found between subjective body weight status and objective body weight status according to WHO-BMI classification (Kappa: 0.19). A total of 184 patients completed the 3 months follow-up and additional 9 patients died during this time, of which 7 and 2 were malnourished and at risk of malnutrition according to MNA-SF, respectively. Of those who were malnourished and at risk of malnutrition based on MNA-SF and died during follow-up, 67.7% did not realize their malnutrition. Compared to the patients with normal nutritional status during hospitalization, malnourished patients based on MNA-SF had higher rates of unplanned hospital readmission and further weight loss and more often reported health deterioration and experienced death within three months after discharge.ConclusionNo agreement between self-perceived nutritional status and objective nutritional status among older hospitalized patients was found. Our study highlights the need to raise knowledge about the issue of malnutrition and increase awareness of health risks associated with malnutrition among older hospitalized patients.

Factors Associated With Underestimation of Weight Among Adults Living in Puerto Rico.

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine the associations between underestimation of weight and sociodemographic, health, and dietary factors among adults living in a rural community in Puerto Rico. For data collection, a researcher-designed questionnaire was distributed to each household in the area. A multivariable logistic regression was conducted for data analysis. Results revealed that the prevalence of overweight and obesity was 34.4% and 38.7%, respectively. A total of 53.4% of the participants underestimated their weight, most of whom were either overweight or obese. Weight underestimation was associated with being male, age ≥35 years, living below the poverty level estimate, perceiving diet quality as excellent/very good, and consuming fast food ≥1 times/week. In conclusion, overweight/obesity rates were high in this sample, and underestimation of weight was common among people with higher body mass index levels. Future public health interventions targeting obesity in this population should consider self-perception of body weight.

Body weight perception and weight loss practices among a group of Sri Lankan university students

Background: The increasing trends in overweight and obesity is a public health issue globally. Self-perception of a person’s weight may influence the action taken by the individual in his/her weight management. Objective: The present study aims to evaluate the association between self-perception of body weight, weight management practices and calculated body mass index (BMI) among a group of Sri Lankan university students. Method: A sample of 384 students was selected from the Eastern University, Sri Lanka by using a systematic sampling technique. A self-administered questionnaire assessed the socio-demographic characters, weight management practices and perception of existing body weight. Weight, height and waist circumference (WC) were measured and compared with Asian anthropometric cut-offs for BMI and WC. Chi-squire test was used to find out the association between selected variables and calculated BMI. Results: The response rate was 87.5%. Out of 336 participants, the percentages of those overweight, obese and underweight were 35.2%, 10.7% and 8.6% respectively. Two- thirds of overweight males and a third of overweight females considered themselves as ‘about right weight’ or ‘underweight’. In the obese subjects, 5.3% and 23.5% men and women respectively perceived themselves as ‘about right weight’. Over two thirds of all obese subjects perceived themselves as being overweight. Of those who perceived themselves as overweight or very overweight, 71.2% tried to lose their weight. In the perceived ‘normal weight category, 6.4% tried to lose weight. Conclusions: Body weight misperception was common among overweight and obese students. Among the perceived overweight or very overweight categories, two thirds attempted to lose their body weight. This study highlights the importance of self-awareness of body weight in maintaining a healthy body weight.

“Do I look fat?” Self-perceived body weight and labor market outcomes

Research reporting that greater body weight is associated with lower wages and employment, particularly among women, focuses on how employers perceive workers. In contrast, we examine whether workers’ own perceptions of body weight influence labor market outcomes. Numerous studies find that misperception of body weight influences health behaviors and health, both mental and physical. For example, anorexia nervosa involves the over-perception of weight and raises the risk of cardiovascular disease. Do the health consequences of inaccurate self-perceived weight carry through to the labor market? We use the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 (NLSY97) to investigate patterns in weight misperception and three labor market outcomes. We find little evidence that either over-perception or under-perception of weight is associated with wages, weeks worked, or the number of jobs held for women and men.

Self-Perceived Body Weight Status among Healthcare Workers in Kisumu East Subcounty, Kenya

Overweight and obesity is one of the most serious public health problems of the 21st century. Its prevalence is increasing at an alarming rate in both developed and developing countries. The role of perceived body weight status regardless of measured Body Mass Index has drawn considerable research attention as it is associated with weight loss behavior. However, the role of perceived body weight status within the Kenyan context is poorly understood. This was a cross sectional study conducted between April and August 2014 involving 165 respondents sampled from nine health facilities. Demographic, socio-economic and lifestyle data was collected using questionnaires and anthropometric measurements were taken using electronic weighing scale and height measuring bar. Majority of respondents, (52%) had a misperception of their body weight status, among these 49% and 4 % underestimated and overestimated their weight, respectively. A statistically significant poor agreement between perceived and measured weight was observed across all respondents (kappa = 0.23, p = &lt; 0.001). Perceived weight status was significantly associated with gender χ2 = 0.034 p = 0.03, age χ2 = 21.48 p = &lt;0.001 and Body Mass Index χ2 = 66.7 p = &lt;0.001. This study found high rate of underestimation and a low one of overestimation of body weight status among Kenyan healthcare workers. Socio-demographic factors associated with underestimation included gender and age. There is need to put in place interventions to sensitize healthcare workers on the importance of having correct body weight perception as a first step towards behaviour change for weight loss and lifestyle change.

Body Weight Misconception and Maintenance Among Female African American College Students

The purpose of this study was to compare self-reported weight classifications with objectively measured body mass index (BMI) and weight management motivations among female African American (AA) students in a mid-size southeastern university in a rural setting. Participants were recruited from general health class to complete a brief survey, and their height/weight was measured. Chi-square tests were performed to investigate whether mismatch occurred between self-perceived weight classification and directly measured BMI, and the relationship between body weight loss effort and self-perceived body weight. Among the women who were classified as overweight or obese based on direct measurements, 29.63% and 11.59% felt they were normal weight, respectively. Almost one third of the overweight college females perceived their body weight incorrectly and body weight perception is a significant factor driving the body weight control efforts. Appropriate programs for body weight perception and weight control behavior for AA female college students should be developed and implemented.

Perceived not actual overweight is associated with excessive school absenteeism among U.S. adolescents

Excess body weight has been reported to be associated with excessive school absenteeism (ESA), but less is known about the association with perceived body weight. The study objective was to weigh the relative influence of perceived and measured weight status on school attendance. We used the data from 3113 adolescents age 12-19 years who were interviewed as a part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES), 2003-2008. Body weight and height were measured during the physical examination, while self-perceived body weight and the number of school days missed was assessed using questionnaires. Missing one or more days per school month (nine days per school year) was defined as, and indicative of, experiencing ESA. ESA was reported from 12.31 (SE=0.89) % of adolescents. The highest prevalence occurred among healthy weight adolescents who erroneously self-perceived as overweight [21.6 (4.77) %], two times higher than adolescents with obesity who self-perceived as "just right weight" [10.3 (2.87) %]. The adjusted prevalence ratio (PR) of ESA for healthy weight adolescents who erroneously self-perceived as "overweight" was 1.91 (95%CI=1.10-3.32) compared to healthy weight peers who correctly self-perceived as "just right" (reference group). The PRs were 0.99 (0.48-2.06) and 1.41 (0.86-2.32) respectively for adolescents with obesity who believed that their body weight was "just right" or "overweight". No significant differences were observed between boys and girls, young (12-15 years) and older adolescents (16-19 years). Perceived overweight rather than actual overweight is significantly associated ESA among adolescents.

Body weight perception among Sri Lankan cardiac patients

BackgroundMisperception of body weight by individuals is a known occurrence. However, it is a potential target for implementing obesity reduction interventions in patients with cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. The aim of this study was to describe the association between self-perception of body weight and objectively measured body mass index (BMI) among cardiac patients in a specialist cardiology institution in Sri Lanka.MethodDuring the study period, 322 (61 %) males and 204 (39 %) females were recruited from consecutive admissions to the Institute of Cardiology, National Hospital, Colombo, Sri Lanka. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to assess demographic characteristics, medical records and body weight perception. Weight, height and waist circumference (WC) were measured and Asian anthropometric cut-off points for BMI and WC were applied.ResultsThe mean BMI of the study population was 23.61 kg/m2. Body size misperception was seen in a significant proportion of the cohort. 85.2 % of overweight patients reported themselves to be of ‘normal weight’ or even ‘underweight’. Moreover, 36 % of obese patients misperceived body weight as being of ‘normal weight’ while 10.9 % considered themselves to be ‘underweight’. 61.9 % of males and 68.8 % of females with central obesity reported themselves to be ‘underweight’ or ‘normal weight’. Among a subgroup with co-morbid metabolic diseases, significant under-perception of body size was seen.ConclusionsSignificant body size misperceptions were noted in this group of cardiac patients. The disparity of perception was seen increasingly with increasing BMI. More than two thirds of overweight and more than half of obese patients believed themselves to have normal or less than normal weight.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40608-016-0113-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

More Overweight Adolescents Think They Are Just Fine: Generational Shift in Body Weight Perceptions Among Adolescents in the U.S.

As obesity prevalence has increased, adolescents' self-perceived body weight might have shifted accordingly. This study aims to investigate the generational shift in adolescents' perception of their body weight. We used data from adolescents aged 12-16 years who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 1988-1994 (early, n=1,720) or 2007-2012 (recent, n=2,518). Self-perceived weight status was assessed by face-to-face interviews, and BMI z-scores were calculated using directly measured weight and height with the 2000 CDC Growth Charts as the reference. The analysis was conducted in 2013. The median BMI z-score of self-perceived overweight adolescents increased from 1.32 (95% CI=1.18, 1.46) among adolescents interviewed early to 1.82 (1.74, 1.90) among adolescents interviewed recently. After adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, sex, and family income, the probability of self-perceiving as "overweight" declined by 29% for overweight/obese adolescents interviewed recently (probability ratio [PR]=0.71 [0.62, 0.82]) compared with adolescents with the same z-scores but interviewed early. The declining tendency of accurately self-perceiving as overweight was most pronounced among whites (PR=0.64 [0.48, 0.85]), and least among blacks (PR=0.76 [0.58, 0.99]). Both boys and girls interviewed recently were significantly less likely to accurately self-perceive as overweight (PR=0.70 [0.56, 0.89] and 0.73 [0.61, 0.87], respectively) compared with their counterparts who were interviewed early. Fewer overweight/obese adolescents self-perceived as such in the 2007-2012 survey compared with the 1988-1994 survey. The declining tendency among overweight or obese adolescents may be indicative of a generational shift in body weight perceptions.