Racial and ethnic differences in weight management behavior by weight perception status.
OBJECTIVE
To examine racial/ethnic differences in the relationship between weight perception and weight management behaviors among overweight and obese adults.


METHODS
The study examined a nationally representative sample of 11,319 non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black and Mexican American overweight and obese adults aged > or = 20 years from the 1999-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.


METHODS
Body mass index (BMI, defined as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) was used to categorize overweight (25 < or = BMI < 30) and obesity (BMI > or = 30). Measured height and weight were used to calculate BMI. Subjects reported self-perception of weight status (correct perception and misperception) and weight management behaviors over the previous 12 months (trying to lose weight, trying not to gain weight, and having a desired weight goal). Weight perception stratified logistic regression was used to model odds of weight management behavior by race/ethnicity.


RESULTS
Among overweight and obese non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, and Mexican American adults, correct weight perception was positively associated with weight management behavior. In multiple logistic regression models, overweight non-Hispanic Blacks with a weight misperception were less likely to have tried to lose weight (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = .7; 95% confidence interval [Cl] = .5,1.0) or to have tried not to gain weight (aOR = .7; 95% CI = .5,1.0) compared to overweight non-Hispanic Whites with a weight misperception. Among the obese with a misperception, non-Hispanic Blacks were less likely to desire to weigh less compared to non-Hispanic Whites (aOR = .5; 95% CI = .3,.9).


CONCLUSIONS
Weight perception was associated with weight management behaviors, and this relationship varied by race/ethnicity. Weight perception may need to be addressed among overweight and obese individuals to increase appropriate weight management behaviors, particularly among minority communities.
Dorsey
Rashida R
RR
National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hyattsville, MD, USA. rrdorsey@gmail.com
Eberhardt
Mark S
MS
Ogden
Cynthia L
CL
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D001827:Body Height / Q000208:ethnology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D017058:Mexican Americans / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D014481:United States; D014892:Weight Perception; D044465:White People / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology