title: Personal weight status classification and health literacy among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the conceptual gap between self-perceived weight and body mass index (BMI), and to assess the knowledge gap between perceived importance of following dietary guidelines and health literacy levels. Adults (n = 131) eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) were interviewed at eleven SNAP regional offices in Maryland. Based on BMI calculated from self-reported height and weight, 65.6% of participants were overweight or obese while 40.5% perceived that they were overweight or obese. In sub-group analysis categorized by BMI, only 20.0% in the overweight and 20.0% in the obese group correctly perceived themselves as being overweight or obese. Following dietary guidelines was perceived as important by a majority of participants, but only 43.5% had adequate health literacy. Conceptual and knowledge gaps between self-perception and objective health status existed in the low-income SNAP-eligible sample. Future studies need to address these gaps because misperceived weight status and insufficient health literacy are critical barriers to inducing behavioral change.
authors: Department of Nutrition and Food Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resource, University of Maryland, 3301 Marie Mount Hall, College Park, MD, USA, hjsong@umd.edu.
authors: Hee-Jung
authors: HJ
authors: Song
authors: Stephanie K
authors: SK
authors: Grutzmacher
authors: Jane
authors: J
authors: Kostenko
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D063105:Food Assistance; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D057220:Health Literacy; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008396:Maryland; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D036301:Qualitative Research