title: Body weight perception among high school students and its influence on weight management behaviors in normal weight students: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigates body weight perception and its influence on weight management behaviors in normal weight adolescents in Timis County, Romania. We hypothesized that misperception of overweight in normal weight adolescents would be positively associated with unhealthy weight control behaviors.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 2908 respondents participating in the survey we selected a total of 2093 normal weight high school students for the analysis. Outcome measures included self-reported height and weight measurements, overweight misperceptions and weight control behaviors. Weighted prevalence estimates and odds ratios were computed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 22.64% of normal weight students who perceived themselves as overweight. Females (36.48%) were more likely to perceive themselves as overweight than males (8.15%) (P < 0.0001). After adjusting for age and gender, students who perceived themselves as overweight were more likely to exercise (OR = 2.85; 95% CI: 2.25-3.61), eat less food, fewer calories or low fat foods (OR = 3.54; 95% CI: 2.78-4.51), fast for 24 hours or more (OR = 1.79; 95% CI: 1.28-2.49), take diet pills, powders or tea (OR = 3.93; 95% CI: 2.62-5.89), vomit or take laxatives (OR = 1.96; 95% CI: 1.15-3.34) to lose weight or to keep from gaining weight, compared to students who did not perceive themselves as overweight.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A significant proportion of normal weight high school students misperceive themselves as overweight and are engaging in unhealthy weight management behaviors. These results should be considered when establishing prevention programs and educational components that address weight misperceptions and the harmful effects of unhealthy weight control methods should be performed even among normal weight adolescents.
authors: Department of Public Health, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania. sursoniu@umft.ro
authors: Sorin
authors: S
authors: Ursoniu
authors: Salomeia
authors: S
authors: Putnoky
authors: Brigitha
authors: B
authors: Vlaicu
references: J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1999 Jun;38(6):754-60
references: 10361795
references: Ann Epidemiol. 2005 Apr;15(4):272-8
references: 15780774
references: Int J Obes (Lond). 2005 Sep;29 Suppl 2:S66-77
references: 16385756
references: J Am Diet Assoc. 1991 Jun;91(6):675-8
references: 2040781
references: J Am Diet Assoc. 1992 Jul;92(7):818-22
references: 1624650
references: ScientificWorldJournal. 2006 Mar 26;6:365-73
references: 16565773
references: N Engl J Med. 1985 Aug 1;313(5):295-303
references: 2861566
references: Eur J Clin Nutr. 1995 Aug;49(8):555-64
references: 7588506
references: J Prev Med Public Health. 2008 Sep;41(5):323-30
references: 18827500
references: Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 1999 Jul;23(7):738-45
references: 10454108
references: Int Q Community Health Educ. 2006-2007;27(1):39-58
references: 18039628
references: Pediatrics. 1989 Sep;84(3):482-9
references: 2788865
references: J Pediatr Psychol. 2002 Sep;27(6):531-40
references: 12177253
references: Ann Intern Med. 1993 Oct 1;119(7 Pt 2):643-5
references: 8363189
references: J Am Coll Nutr. 1993 Oct;12(5):505-10
references: 8263264
references: J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 1998 Feb;39(2):255-62
references: 9669238
references: Soc Sci Med. 2005 Mar;60(6):1165-73
references: 15626514
references: J Adolesc Health. 2006 Aug;39(2):244-51
references: 16857537
references: J Gen Intern Med. 2001 Aug;16(8):538-43
references: 11556930
references: Ann Intern Med. 1993 Oct 1;119(7 Pt 2):667-71
references: 8363194
references: J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1993 Jul;32(4):843-50
references: 8340308
references: Obes Res. 2004 Nov;12(11):1866-74
references: 15601984
references: N Engl J Med. 1983 Sep 1;309(9):513-8
references: 6877321
references: Proc Nutr Soc. 1997 Mar;56(1B):305-17
references: 9168541
references: J Adolesc Health. 1996 Jan;18(1):20-6
references: 8750424
references: J Adolesc Health. 1991 Jun;12(4):307-12
references: 1755870
references: Pediatrics. 1988 Feb;81(2):190-4
references: 3422404
references: Prev Med. 2000 May;30(5):415-24
references: 10845751
references: Public Health Nutr. 2001 Dec;4(6A):1439-44
references: 11918497
references: J Adolesc Health. 2004 Apr;34(4):300-7
references: 15040999
references: Am J Clin Nutr. 1986 Sep;44(3):410-6
references: 3751962
references: J Adolesc Health. 2006 Jul;39(1):27-34
references: 16781958
references: J Adolesc Health. 2003 Apr;32(4):281-7
references: 12667732
references: Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1999 Jul;153(7):741-7
references: 10401809
references: Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1999 Nov;153(11):1184-9
references: 10555723
references: Wien Klin Wochenschr. 2009;121(17-18):564-73
references: 19890746
references: Am J Prev Med. 2003 May;24(4):332-9
references: 12726871