title: The relationship of perceived and actual weight in minority adolescents.
abstract: The prevalence of overweight in adolescents with its associated outcomes continues to be a major public health concern. The purpose of this study was to assess whether adolescents perceived their weight accurately and to determine the relationships among perceived and actual weight, depression, anxiety, anger, disruptive behavior, and self-concept in minority adolescents. A descriptive, correlational design was conducted with 33 adolescents. Questions regarding weight perception, depression, anxiety, anger, disruptive behavior, and self-concept were correlated with body fat percentile, body mass index (BMI), and BMI percentile. Findings indicated that adolescent perception of overweight was positively related to actual weight and negatively related to self-esteem and disruptive behavior. Adolescents who were overweight identified their weight accurately and tried to lose weight.
authors.affiliation: Arizona State University, College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation, AZ; Phoenix Children's Hospital, Phoenix, AZ, USA. judith.ohaver@asu.edu
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: O'Haver
authors.forename: Bernadette Mazurek
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Melnyk
authors.forename: Mary Z
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Mays
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jacobson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D000786:Anger; D001007:Anxiety / Q000208:ethnology; D001130:Arizona / Q000453:epidemiology; D019958:Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000208:ethnology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000523:psychology*; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D050177:Overweight / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology; D012649:Self Concept