title: Which measures of adiposity are related to Australian adolescent's perception of their weight?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine which measurement of adiposity - standardised body mass index (BMI-z), waist circumference or body fat percentage - is most closely correlated with adolescents' weight perception and whether this differs by gender.
  
  
  METHODS
  Weight and height (used to calculate BMI-z), waist circumference and body fat percentage were measured in 2278 adolescents aged between 12 and 16 and compared with self-reported weight status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The distribution of subjects across the three weight categories (underweight, healthy weight and overweight) differed significantly between BMI-z, waist circumference and body fat percentage (p < 0.001). BMI-z was most closely aligned with perceived weight status in boys and girls, and waist circumference was also a good correlate of weight perception in boys. Boys were more likely than girls to underestimate their weight when it was defined by BMI-z; however, girls were equally likely to underestimate their weight when it was defined by waist circumference. The majority of adolescents underestimated their weight status when it was defined by BF%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BMI-z is the closest correlate of self-perceived weight status. In the absence of internationally accepted reference values for waist circumference, BMI-z is the most appropriate measure to verify weight perception.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Deakin University, Burwood, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fredrickson
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kremer
authors.forename: Boyd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Swinburn
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Silva
authors.forename: Marita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McCabe
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity; D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D050177:Overweight / Q000523:psychology*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014739:Victoria; D055105:Waist Circumference
keywords: Adolescent; Measurement; Perception; Weight