title: Trends in racial/ethnic disparities in overweight self-perception among US adults, 1988-1994 and 1999-2008.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Weight self-perceptions, or how a person perceives his/her weight status, may affect weight outcomes. We use nationally representative data from 1988-1994 and 1999-2008 to examine racial/ethnic disparities in weight self-perceptions and understand how disparities have changed over time.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using data from two time periods, 1988-1994 and 1999-2008, we calculated descriptive statistics, multivariate logistic regression models and predicted probabilities to examine trends in weight self-perceptions among Whites, Blacks, US-born Mexican Americans and Mexican immigrants to the USA. Setting National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) III (1988-1994) and continuous NHANES (1999-2008).
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult NHANES participants aged 18 years and older (n 37 050).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The likelihood of self-classifying as overweight declined between 1988-1994 and 1999-2008 among all US adults, despite significant increases in mean BMI and overweight prevalence. Trends in weight self-perceptions varied by gender and between racial/ethnic groups. Whites in both time periods were more likely than racial/ethnic minorities to perceive themselves as overweight. After adjustment for other factors, disparities in weight self-perceptions between Whites and Blacks of both genders grew between survey periods (P<0·05), but differences between overweight White women and Mexican immigrants decreased (P<0·05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Weight self-perceptions have changed during the obesity epidemic in the USA, but changes have not been consistent across racial/ethnic groups. Secular declines in the likelihood of self-classifying as overweight, particularly among Blacks, are troubling because weight self-perceptions may affect weight-loss efforts and obesity outcomes.
authors.affiliation: 1Division of Health Promotion Sciences,University of Arizona,Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health,PO Box 245209,Tucson,AZ 85724,USA.
authors.forename: Brent A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Langellier
authors.affiliation: 2Department of Community Health Sciences,UCLA Fielding School of Public Health,Los Angeles,CA,USA.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Glik
authors.affiliation: 3Department of Health Policy and Management,UCLA Fielding School of Public Health,Los Angeles,CA,USA.
authors.forename: Alexander N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Ortega
authors.affiliation: 2Department of Community Health Sciences,UCLA Fielding School of Public Health,Los Angeles,CA,USA.
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Prelip
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D050177:Overweight / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D044469:Racial Groups; D012649:Self Concept; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States
keywords: Health disparities; Obesity; Psychosocial factors; Race/ethnicity