In denial: misperceptions of weight change among adults in the United States.
OBJECTIVE
Obesity is associated with several chronic conditions, increased medical costs, and premature death. Proper assessment of changes in body weight is crucial to control the spread of obesity. We used data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System to explore how adults in the United States recall their weight change and to identify characteristics associated with weight changes.


METHODS
Data from two cross-sections of adults aged ≥18 years from the 2008 (n=385,416) and 2009 (n=394,700) Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System were analyzed. Body mass index was calculated from self-reported height and weight. Self-reported estimates of weight 1 year prior to the interview were used to calculate changes in weight and obesity status between 2008 and 2009.


RESULTS
If self-reported changes in weight between 2008 and 2009 are to be believed, the obesity prevalence among men and women in the United States would have declined by 2.0% and 0.9% respectively. Yet, obesity prevalence increased 0.4%, overall, during this tim'e period. In general, American adults overestimated their previous weight and reported weight losses even though they had gained weight.


CONCLUSIONS
Public health and medical professionals should interpret self-reported weight changes with caution when developing, implementing, and evaluating programs to control and prevent weight gain.
Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98121, USA.
Catherine M
CM
Wetmore
Ali H
AH
Mokdad
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003717:Denial, Psychological; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012649:Self Concept; D057566:Self Report; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology