title: Weight patterns and perceptions among female university students of Karachi: a cross sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Body weight and its perception play an important role in the physical and mental well-being of a person. Weight perception is found to be a better predictor of weight management behaviour as compared to actual weight. In Pakistan, studies have been done on the prevalence of weight status but weight perception is still unexplored. The study was done to examine relationships between body weight perception, actual weight status, and weight control behaviour among the female university students of Karachi.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross sectional study was carried out during Sep-Nov 2009 on female students in four universities of Karachi, Pakistan. Our final sample size included 338 female university students. Height and weight were measured on calibrated scales. A modified BMI criterion for Asian populations was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Based on measured BMI; the prevalence of underweight, normal weight and overweight females was 27.2%, 51.5% and 21.3% respectively. As a whole, just over one third (33.73%) of the sample misclassified their weight status. Among underweight (n=92), 45.70% thought they were of normal weight. No one who was truly underweight perceived them self as overweight. Among the normal weight (n= 174), 9.8% thought they were underweight and 23.6% considered themselves overweight. Among the overweight (n=72); 18.3% considered themselves normal. Only one female student thought she was underweight despite being truly overweight.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study shows that among female university students in Karachi, the prevalence of being underweight is comparatively high. There is a significant misperception of weight, with one third of students misclassifying themselves. Underweight females are likely to perceive themselves as normal and be most satisfied with their weight. Health policy makers should implement these findings in future development of health interventions and prevention of depression, social anxiety and eating disorders associated with incorrect weight perception among young females. Studies that employ a longitudinal approach are needed to validate our findings.
authors.affiliation: Medical College, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Zubaida
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sirang
authors.forename: Hassaan Hasan
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Bashir
authors.forename: Bilal
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jalil
authors.forename: Sarah Haroon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Samia Altaf
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.forename: Aneeqa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baig
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taufeeq
authors.forename: Kashif
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Samad
authors.forename: Muhammad Masood
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Kadir
mesh_terms: D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010154:Pakistan; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult