title: Visual weight status misperceptions of men: Why overweight can look like a healthy weight.
abstract: Overweight men often underestimate their weight status. Here, we examine whether underestimation occurs when visually judging the weight status of men and whether exposure to heavier body weights may be a cause of visual underestimation of male weight status. Participants systematically underestimated the weight status of overweight and obese men (Study 1) and participants reporting more frequent exposure to heavy male body weights were most likely to underestimate (Study 2). Experimental exposure to different body weights influenced underestimation of weight status (Study 3). Frequent exposure to heavier body weights may cause visual underestimation of the weight status of overweight men.
authors.affiliation: University of Liverpool, UK moldham@liverpool.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oldham
authors.affiliation: University of Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Robinson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050177:Overweight / Q000523:psychology*; D014796:Visual Perception; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: obesity; social norms; weight misperceptions