title: [Adolescent nutrition promotion: real and false problems].
abstract: This study shows the relationship between BMI of 3000 adolescents and their perceived-weight status, and the strategies for weight loss. The finding indicate that substantial numbers of teenage females perceive themselves as overweight when BMI suggest they are not, while males have a reasonably accurate weight. Diet was the most frequently selected method for losing weight especially among females that wrongly perceive themselves overweight (O.R. = 5.54 I.C. 95% 4.28-7.19); while males were as likely to use diet as a strategy to lose weight only if they were really overweight (O.R. = 6.00; I.C. 95% 2.26-15.92). Exercise was selected as a method for losing weight by males independently to be overweight and by females only that perceive themselves overweight. The study shows that the young people of Sardinia need a health program to empower their knowledge the difference between health and aesthetic.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica Università degli Studi di Cagliari.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mereu
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pintor
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Contu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017195:Adolescent Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015431:Weight Loss