title: Longitudinal concomitants of incorrect weight perception in female and male adolescents.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to analyse the longitudinal concomitants of incorrect weight perception, depressive symptoms, social anxiety, self-esteem, and eating disorders in adolescents. A prospective follow-up study on 283 female and 312 male adolescents aged 15 comprising questionnaires directed at the whole study population and subsequent personal interviews with adolescents found to be screen-positive for eating disorders, at both baseline and three-year follow-up. Body mass index was combined with weight perception to classify adolescents with incorrect weight perception. Twenty-nine percent of females incorrectly perceived themselves as overweight and 14% of males incorrectly as underweight. Incorrect weight perception was in females related to depressive symptoms, social anxiety, eating disorders, and low self-esteem. Males with incorrect weight perception experienced more social anxiety at the follow-up than their counterparts with correct weight perception. Recognition of incorrect weight perception is important for prevention of depression, social anxiety, and eating disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Sciences, Åbo Akademi University-Vasa, Vasa, Finland. rasmus.isomaa@abo.fi
authors.forename: Rasmus
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Isomaa
authors.forename: Anna-Lisa
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Isomaa
authors.forename: Mauri
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marttunen
authors.forename: Riittakerttu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kaltiala-Heino
authors.forename: Kaj
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Björkqvist
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001364:Awareness; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D050177:Overweight / Q000523:psychology; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors; D013851:Thinness / Q000523:psychology