title: Body mass index self-perception and weight management behaviors during late adolescence.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study examined the relationship between actual body weight and self-perceived weight, and how perception of one's weight affects weight management behaviors among US adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adolescents ages 16-19 years with objectively-measured weight and height and self-reported perception of weight, weight-loss efforts, and health-related behaviors (N = 642) from the 2009-2010 National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) were included. Sociodemographic variables, body mass index percentile, weight perception, weight-loss efforts, and health-related behaviors were examined using Wald chi-square, Student's t test, analysis of variance, and logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Approximately 15% were overweight, and 20% were obese; 26% inaccurately perceived their weight. Ethnic minority groups displayed higher rates of overweight and obesity. Overweight adolescents had a higher rate of inaccurate weight perception than obese adolescents. More girls correctly perceived their weight status than boys. Nearly 25% had tried to lose weight during the past year. Among overweight and obese adolescents, accurate weight perception was significantly and positively related to weight-loss efforts after controlling for sociodemographic variables and actual weight.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Accurate body weight perception is a significant factor in adolescents' weight-loss efforts. Targeting counseling for body weight perception and weight management toward boys and overweight adolescents may impact obesity in this age group.
authors.affiliation: Lienhard School of Nursing, College of Health Professions, Pace University, 861 Bedford Road, L306, Pleasantville, NY 10570. kyang@pace.edu.
authors.forename: Kyeongra
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Melanie T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Turk
authors.forename: Virginia L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Allison
authors.forename: Khara A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: Eileen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chasens
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D050177:Overweight / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D012649:Self Concept; D057566:Self Report; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D015431:Weight Loss; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: NHANES; adolescents; obese; overweight; weight loss; weight perception