Body Weight Perception Versus Body Weight Status: How Good is The Agreement?

Abstract

Introduction: Body weight perception is an important underlying psychological factor associated with body weight. Overemphasis on thinness among adolescents can lead to unhealthy dieting practices and eating disorders, whereas underestimation of body weight may increase risk of the development of overweight and obesity. This study measured the agreement between body weight perception and body weight status (BMI) among late adolescents in Kuantan. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from April to August 2018 among 418 adolescents of six higher learning institutions in Kuantan; aged 17-19 years old. Weight and height were measured and BMI was calculated. Self-administered, validated questionnaires; Figure Rating Scale (FRS) and International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) were used. The strength of agreement between BMI and body weight perception was examined using Kappa statistics. Results: Overall, 37.6% of total participants misjudged their own body weight. Of particular note, 51.9% of real underweight participants misperceived body weight as normal weight and overweight while 47.2% of obese participants incorrectly perceived their body weight as overweight. The agreement between body weight perception and body mass index was poor (k=-0.09, p< 0.01). The discrepancy more marked in male (k = -0.11, p<0.01). Conclusions: Body weight perception was not in agreement with actual weight in late adolescents. Accurate body weight perception is an important factor in late adolescent’s weight management behaviour. More effort should be done in order to correct misperception among this age group for their health benefits.

Determinants of Higher Body Shape Concern Among Medical Students in Universiti Putra Malaysia

“…A score of 80 and below corresponded to "no concern with body shape", score of 81 to 110 corresponded to "slight concern with body shape", score of 111 to 140 corresponded "moderate concern with body shape" and score of 141 and more corresponded to "marked concern with body shape" (17). The BSQ shows good concurrent validity with Eating Attitude Test (EAT) and also Body Dissatisfaction subscale of Eating Disorder weight and those whom were obese identified themselves as overweight (7). Body shape misperception can lead to body image dissatisfaction/concerns.…”

“…Besides traditional mass media such as films, television and magazines being a factor in body shape concern (whereby exposure to thin-ideals in all forms media exposure was associated with body image dissatisfaction) (9), in this current age of internet and social media such as Facebook® and Instagram®, this two new modern forms of mass media has been reported to be a factor for body shape concerns (10,11). Previous local literatures have looked at prevalence of body shape concerns not only among the Malaysian adolescents (12) but also among students in higher learning institutions (7,8) and even among university undergraduate students including those from the medical and allied health programs (2,13). However it did not assess whether the duration of years in medical program nor the characteristics of modern mass media (internet and social media platforms) influences was a factor for body shape concerns.…”

Weight Management Behaviors among Students in a Public University

“…Previous research revealed that body weight and shape concerns could play a role in linking obesity and psychosocial impairment. These findings suggest that in the clinical care of obesity, weight perception should be targeted to enhance physical and psychosocial outcomes (Badrin, Daud & Ismail, 2018;Quaidoo, Ohemeng & Amankwah-Poku, 2018;Jamani et al, 2018).…”

The Relationship between Sex, Physical Activity and Body Mass Index in Thai Adult Working

“…underweight, normal weight, overweight and obese. BMI values are independent of age and applicable for both males and females (binti Jamani et al,2018). Florido et al reported that when physical activities are increased, the chances of having cardiac injury or becoming obese are lessened.…”