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Weight self-perception in adolescents: evidence from a population-based study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 March 2021

Mariana Contiero San Martini*
Affiliation:
State University of Campinas, School of Medical Sciences, Department of Pediatrics, Campinas-13083-887, Campinas, SP, Brazil
Daniela de Assumpção
Affiliation:
State University of Campinas, School of Medical Sciences, Department of Pediatrics, Campinas-13083-887, Campinas, SP, Brazil
Marilisa Berti de Azevedo Barros
Affiliation:
State University of Campinas, School of Medical Sciences, Department of Collective Health, Campinas, SP, Brazil
Antônio de Azevedo Barros Filho
Affiliation:
State University of Campinas, School of Medical Sciences, Department of Pediatrics, Campinas-13083-887, Campinas, SP, Brazil
Josiemer Mattei
Affiliation:
Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Department of Nutrition, Boston, MA, USA
*
*Corresponding author: Email maricsm.02@gmail.com
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Abstract

Objective:

To evaluate weight misperception among adolescents and determine associations between self-perceived weight and socio-demographic characteristics, BMI, screen time, self-rated food quantity and diet quality, weekly frequency of breakfast and the consumption of healthy and unhealthy foods.

Design:

A cross-sectional, two-stage, probabilistic population-based study was conducted in Campinas, Brazil. Multinomial logistic regressions were run to estimate weight self-perception.

Setting:

Data from the Campinas Health Survey (ISACamp) and Campinas Food Consumption Survey (ISACamp-Nutri).

Participants:

A total of 911 adolescents aged 10–19 years.

Results:

Nearly half (47·7 %) of the adolescents with overweight/obesity did not evaluate their weight properly. Weight self-perception as thin and excess weight was associated with the female gender, overweight/obesity, self-rated diet quality as poor/very poor and eating snacks ≥3 times/week. Adolescents who did not consume breakfast daily were less likely to perceive themselves as thin. Adolescents who ate excessively were more likely and those who consumed cookies/crackers ≥3 times/week were less likely to perceive themselves as having excess weight.

Conclusions:

Greater weight misperception was found in overweight/obese adolescents. Gender, BMI, self-rated food quantity/diet quality, weekly frequency of breakfast and some unhealthy foods were associated with self-perceived weight. The present findings could contribute to health promotion strategies targeting adolescents.

Information

Type
Research paper
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Nutrition Society
Figure 0

Table 1 Percentage of nutritional status according to weight self-perception in adolescents aged 10–19 years. Campinas Health Survey and Campinas Food Consumption Survey (ISACamp and ISACamp-Nutri, Brazil, 2014/2016)

Figure 1

Table 2 Percentage of weight self-perception according to socio-demographic characteristics of adolescents aged 10–19 years. Campinas Health Survey and Campinas Food Consumption Survey (ISACamp and ISACamp-Nutri, Brazil, 2014/2016)

Figure 2

Table 3 Percentage of weight self-perception according to BMI, screen time, self-rated amount eaten and diet quality in adolescents aged 10–19 years. Campinas Health Survey and Campinas Food Consumption Survey (ISACamp and ISACamp-Nutri, Brazil, 2014/2016)

Figure 3

Table 4 Percentage of weight self-perception according to weekly frequency of breakfast and consumption of healthy and unhealthy foods in adolescents aged 10–19 years. Campinas Health Survey and Campinas Food Consumption Survey (ISACamp and ISACamp-Nutri, Brazil, 2014/2016)

Figure 4

Table 5 Multinomial logistic regression analysis* of factors associated with self-perception of body weight in adolescents aged 10–19 years. Campinas Health Survey and Campinas Food Consumption Survey (ISACamp and ISACamp-Nutri, Brazil, 2014/2016)