Self-Reported Weight Patterns and Perceptions among Female Students of Saudi Arabia: A Cross Sectional Survey

Abstract

Background: Young adults are known across the world for the concern for weight and their perceptions of weight are known to be influenced by factors like media, culture, societal norms, parental and peer group expectations. Objective: This study explores the associations between body mass index (BMI), weight perceptions, and attempts to lose weight in female university students from university of Hail. Methodology: Data were collected from 100 university female students, using self-reported weight, height, self, parent and peer perception of weight, and weight loss strategies. BMI was calculated from weight and height and was categorized into International and Asian clinical criteria. Results: The total mean age ± SD was 21.66 ± 1.39 years (range 19-25) and mean± SD BMI was 22.96 ± 3.74. Nearly 16 % and 4 % of study population were overweight and obese respectively according to BMI International cut off whereas around 34 % and 11 % of study population were overweight and obese respectively according to BMI Asian cut off. Self, parents and peer perceptions are either skewed towards underweight or obese indicating the need for educating the knowledge of actual BMI status in these populations. Currently 22 % agree that they are on dieting while 31 % agree that they do physical exercise as weight management strategy. Cohen's Kappa suggests a very poor agreement of self-perception with actual weight status. Conclusions: Our study has shown that among female university students, there is significant misperception of weight, with one third of students misclassifying themselves. Weight perceptions were not good indicators for weight management practices.

Am I Overweight? A Longitudinal Study on Parental and Peers Weight-Related Perceptions on Dietary Behaviors and Weight Status Among Adolescents

“…In line with research conducted so far, the measurement of perceptions of weight status was based on single items (cf. Rudolph et al, 2010 ; Epuru et al, 2013 ).…”

“…Three types of weight status perceptions were assessed: (1) adolescents’ own weight perceptions, (2) parental perceptions (parental perceptions of adolescents’ weight status perceived by participants), and (3) peers’ perceptions (peers’ perceptions of adolescents’ weight status perceived by participants). Each construct was measured with one item, based on Epuru et al (2013) . In order to obtain adolescents’ own weight perceptions, the respondents were asked what they think about their weight (“I think I am…”).…”

“…Previous research has explored adolescents’ perceptions of their own weight status (what an individual think about their own weight; Rudolph et al, 2010 ; Ojala et al, 2012 ; Hisar and Toruner, 2013 ) and others’ perceptions of their own weight status (what an individual’s parents or peers think of the individual’s weight; Keller et al, 2013 ). Moreover, research has investigated others’ perceptions of adolescents’ weight status (what an individual’s parents or peers think of the individual’s weight; Chen et al, 2014 ; Sand et al, 2014 ; Tompkins et al, 2014 ) and individual adolescents’ perceptions of others’ weight status (what adolescents think about their parents or peers’ weight; Race Mackey and La Greca, 2008 ; Epuru et al, 2013 ).…”

Bulimia Nervosa and Body Dissatisfaction in Terms of Self-Perception of Body Image

“…'Misperception of own weight status refers to the discordance between an individual's actual weight status and the perception of his/her weight status' [42]. The discoveries of misperception from a study conducted in Hail about body weight perception, among female university students has shown that, one-third of students misclassifying themselves when compared with actual weight [43]. Several *Address all correspondence to: layamanitha@gmail.com studies show that female has a lot of curiosity about their body image and worried regarding it more than men.…”

“…Since the issue of weight and weight perception are universal, the influence of social norms cannot be denied. Furthermore, there is a lack of information on how the misperception might affect Saudi women [43]. So, to understand self-perception, it is a demand to understand how people might feel about themselves as they definitely experience physical changes over their lifespan [46].…”