Cargando…

Does perception equal reality? Weight misperception in relation to weight-related attitudes and behaviors among overweight and obese US adults

BACKGROUND: Weight misperception might preclude the adoption of healthful weight-related attitudes and behaviors among overweight and obese individuals, yet limited research exists in this area. We examined associations between weight misperception and several weight-related attitudes and behaviors...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Duncan, Dustin T, Wolin, Kathleen Y, Scharoun-Lee, Melissa, Ding, Eric L, Warner, Erica T, Bennett, Gary G
Formato: Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: BioMed Central 2011
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3073863/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21426567
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1479-5868-8-20
_version_ 1782201648929570816
author Duncan, Dustin T
Wolin, Kathleen Y
Scharoun-Lee, Melissa
Ding, Eric L
Warner, Erica T
Bennett, Gary G
author_facet Duncan, Dustin T
Wolin, Kathleen Y
Scharoun-Lee, Melissa
Ding, Eric L
Warner, Erica T
Bennett, Gary G
author_sort Duncan, Dustin T
collection PubMed
description BACKGROUND: Weight misperception might preclude the adoption of healthful weight-related attitudes and behaviors among overweight and obese individuals, yet limited research exists in this area. We examined associations between weight misperception and several weight-related attitudes and behaviors among a nationally representative sample of overweight and obese US adults. METHODS: Data from the 2003-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were used. Analyses included non-pregnant, overweight and obese (measured body mass index ≥ 25) adults aged 20 and older. Weight misperception was identified among those who reported themselves as "underweight" or "about the right weight". Outcome variables and sample sizes were: weight-loss attitudes/behaviors (wanting to weigh less and having tried to lose weight; n = 4,784); dietary intake (total energy intake; n = 4,894); and physical activity (meets 2008 US physical activity recommendations, insufficiently active, and sedentary; n = 5,401). Multivariable regression models were stratified by gender and race/ethnicity. Analyses were conducted in 2009-2010. RESULTS: These overweight/obese men and women who misperceived their weight were 71% (RR 0.29, 95% CI 0.25-0.34) and 65% (RR 0.35, 95% CI 0.29-0.42) less likely to report that they want to lose weight and 60% (RR 0.40, 95% CI 0.30-0.52) and 56% (RR 0.44, 95% CI 0.32-0.59) less likely to have tried to lose weight within the past year, respectively, compared to those who accurately perceived themselves as overweight. Blacks were particularly less likely to have tried to lose weight. Weight misperception was not a significant predictor of total energy intake among most subgroups, but was associated with lower total energy intake among Hispanic women (change -252.72, 95% CI -433.25, -72.18). Men who misperceived their weight were less likely (RR 0.68, 95% CI 0.52-0.89) to be insufficiently active (the strongest results were among Black men) and women who misperceived their weight were less likely (RR 0.74, 95% CI 0.54, 1.00, p = 0.047) to meet activity recommendations compared to being sedentary. CONCLUSION: Overall, weight misperception among overweight and obese adults was associated with less likelihood of interest in or attempts at weight loss and less physical activity. These associations varied by gender and race/ethnicity. This study highlights the importance of focusing on inaccurate weight perceptions in targeted weight loss efforts.
format Text
id pubmed-3073863
institution National Center for Biotechnology Information
language English
publishDate 2011
publisher BioMed Central
record_format MEDLINE/PubMed
spelling pubmed-30738632011-04-12 Does perception equal reality? Weight misperception in relation to weight-related attitudes and behaviors among overweight and obese US adults Duncan, Dustin T Wolin, Kathleen Y Scharoun-Lee, Melissa Ding, Eric L Warner, Erica T Bennett, Gary G Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act Research BACKGROUND: Weight misperception might preclude the adoption of healthful weight-related attitudes and behaviors among overweight and obese individuals, yet limited research exists in this area. We examined associations between weight misperception and several weight-related attitudes and behaviors among a nationally representative sample of overweight and obese US adults. METHODS: Data from the 2003-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were used. Analyses included non-pregnant, overweight and obese (measured body mass index ≥ 25) adults aged 20 and older. Weight misperception was identified among those who reported themselves as "underweight" or "about the right weight". Outcome variables and sample sizes were: weight-loss attitudes/behaviors (wanting to weigh less and having tried to lose weight; n = 4,784); dietary intake (total energy intake; n = 4,894); and physical activity (meets 2008 US physical activity recommendations, insufficiently active, and sedentary; n = 5,401). Multivariable regression models were stratified by gender and race/ethnicity. Analyses were conducted in 2009-2010. RESULTS: These overweight/obese men and women who misperceived their weight were 71% (RR 0.29, 95% CI 0.25-0.34) and 65% (RR 0.35, 95% CI 0.29-0.42) less likely to report that they want to lose weight and 60% (RR 0.40, 95% CI 0.30-0.52) and 56% (RR 0.44, 95% CI 0.32-0.59) less likely to have tried to lose weight within the past year, respectively, compared to those who accurately perceived themselves as overweight. Blacks were particularly less likely to have tried to lose weight. Weight misperception was not a significant predictor of total energy intake among most subgroups, but was associated with lower total energy intake among Hispanic women (change -252.72, 95% CI -433.25, -72.18). Men who misperceived their weight were less likely (RR 0.68, 95% CI 0.52-0.89) to be insufficiently active (the strongest results were among Black men) and women who misperceived their weight were less likely (RR 0.74, 95% CI 0.54, 1.00, p = 0.047) to meet activity recommendations compared to being sedentary. CONCLUSION: Overall, weight misperception among overweight and obese adults was associated with less likelihood of interest in or attempts at weight loss and less physical activity. These associations varied by gender and race/ethnicity. This study highlights the importance of focusing on inaccurate weight perceptions in targeted weight loss efforts. BioMed Central 2011-03-22 /pmc/articles/PMC3073863/ /pubmed/21426567 http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1479-5868-8-20 Text en Copyright ©2011 Duncan et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
spellingShingle Research
Duncan, Dustin T
Wolin, Kathleen Y
Scharoun-Lee, Melissa
Ding, Eric L
Warner, Erica T
Bennett, Gary G
Does perception equal reality? Weight misperception in relation to weight-related attitudes and behaviors among overweight and obese US adults
title Does perception equal reality? Weight misperception in relation to weight-related attitudes and behaviors among overweight and obese US adults
title_full Does perception equal reality? Weight misperception in relation to weight-related attitudes and behaviors among overweight and obese US adults
title_fullStr Does perception equal reality? Weight misperception in relation to weight-related attitudes and behaviors among overweight and obese US adults
title_full_unstemmed Does perception equal reality? Weight misperception in relation to weight-related attitudes and behaviors among overweight and obese US adults
title_short Does perception equal reality? Weight misperception in relation to weight-related attitudes and behaviors among overweight and obese US adults
title_sort does perception equal reality? weight misperception in relation to weight-related attitudes and behaviors among overweight and obese us adults
topic Research
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3073863/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21426567
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1479-5868-8-20
work_keys_str_mv AT duncandustint doesperceptionequalrealityweightmisperceptioninrelationtoweightrelatedattitudesandbehaviorsamongoverweightandobeseusadults
AT wolinkathleeny doesperceptionequalrealityweightmisperceptioninrelationtoweightrelatedattitudesandbehaviorsamongoverweightandobeseusadults
AT scharounleemelissa doesperceptionequalrealityweightmisperceptioninrelationtoweightrelatedattitudesandbehaviorsamongoverweightandobeseusadults
AT dingericl doesperceptionequalrealityweightmisperceptioninrelationtoweightrelatedattitudesandbehaviorsamongoverweightandobeseusadults
AT warnerericat doesperceptionequalrealityweightmisperceptioninrelationtoweightrelatedattitudesandbehaviorsamongoverweightandobeseusadults
AT bennettgaryg doesperceptionequalrealityweightmisperceptioninrelationtoweightrelatedattitudesandbehaviorsamongoverweightandobeseusadults