Accuracy of Weight Perception Among American Indian Tribal College Students

Abstract

Introduction National data indicate a higher prevalence of obesity among American Indian (AI) populations and greater disparity of morbidity and mortality among younger age groups compared with other ethnicities. Diet and physical activity are important obesity preventive behaviors, but no published data exist that describe these behaviors in relation to obesity in AI young adults at tribal colleges. Study purposes were to: (1) identify fruit and vegetable and physical activity practices of AI young adults from three U.S. tribal colleges according to BMI categories; (2) identify the accuracy of body weight perceptions; and (3) identify predictor variables for weight misperception. Methods In this observational study during 2011–2014, a total of 1,256 participants were recruited from three participating U.S. tribal colleges to complete an online survey addressing issues related to diet, physical activity, and weight perception. Reported height and weight were used to calculate BMI categories, and differences between BMI categories were examined. Gender differences related to accuracy of weight perception by BMI categories were also examined. Analyses were conducted in 2016. Results Based on self-reported height and weight, 68% of the sample was overweight or obese (BMI ≥25) and the mean BMI was 28.9 (SD=6.9). Most did not meet recommendations for fruit intake (78.7%), vegetable intake (96.6%), or physical activity (65.6%). More than half (53.7%%) who were overweight/obese underestimated their weight category. Men more often underestimated their weight category (54.2%) than women (35.1%). Conclusions Interventions are needed to improve weight-related lifestyle behaviors of AI tribal college students.

Weight underestimation linked to anxiety and depression in a cross-sectional study of overweight individuals in a Sami and non-Sami Norwegian population: the SAMINOR Study

“…More men (~53%) than women (~30%) perceived their weight inaccurately, and significantly more Sami women (34.4%) compared with non-Sami women (29.8%) underestimated their overweight/obesity. The discrepancy between women and men highly agrees with most studies published, and many of these are based on different ethnic populations 4 31 35–37. A study of Caribbean adults aged >40 years, however, showed equal sex distribution 38.…”

Racial/ethnic differences in body weight perception among U.S. college students

“…Sex-stratified multinomial logistic regression models were fit, controlling for age, cigarette use in the past 30 days, alcohol use, daily fruit and vegetable consumption, and meeting physical activity guidelines based on prior literature. 32 In multinomial logistic regression models, the two categories (overestimation and underestimation) of the outcome variable (weight perception) were compared to the accurate estimation category (reference group) in a single model. We reported odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).…”

Transcultural Diabetes Care in The United States – A Position Statement by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists

“…Apart from Pacific Islanders, overweight/obesity rates among the ethnic minorities correlate with diabetes and other health disparities, such as poor/fair health and physical disability (277). In a study of tribal college students in the Midwest and Northern Plains from 2011-2014, 68% of participants were found to be overweight/obese, with a mean BMI of 28.9 kg/m 2 (278). In addition, 96.6% fail to meet recommendations for vegetable intake, 78.7% for fruit intake, and 65.6% for physical activity (278).…”

“…In a study of tribal college students in the Midwest and Northern Plains from 2011-2014, 68% of participants were found to be overweight/obese, with a mean BMI of 28.9 kg/m 2 (278). In addition, 96.6% fail to meet recommendations for vegetable intake, 78.7% for fruit intake, and 65.6% for physical activity (278). Subjects also underestimate their weight category: 54.2% of males compared with 35.1% of females (278).…”

“…In addition, 96.6% fail to meet recommendations for vegetable intake, 78.7% for fruit intake, and 65.6% for physical activity (278). Subjects also underestimate their weight category: 54.2% of males compared with 35.1% of females (278).…”