title: Misperception of weight status and associated factors among undergraduate students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We compared participants' self-perception of their weight with the World Health Organisation (WHO) definition for BMI categories among undergraduate university students undertaking health related academic programmes in Ghana. Also, we investigated factors associated to the underestimation of weight status in this sample.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study was conducted among a sample of 368 undergraduate students. Anthropometric measurements of weight and height were measured with appropriate tools and computed into Body Mass Index (BMI) categorised based on WHO classifications. Waist and hip circumferences were also measured appropriately. Participants' self-perception of weight status was assessed by the question: How do you perceive your weight? (a) Underweight, (b) normal weight, (c) overweight, and (d) obese. The BMI-measured weight status was compared to the self-perceived weight status by cross-tabulation, Kappa statistics of agreement and χ(2) for trend analysis. Factors associated with misperception of weight status was measured using univariate and multivariable analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirteen percent (n=48) of the participants were overweight/obesity (BMI) and 31.5% had central obesity. Overall, 20.6% of the participants misperceived their weight status in which 78.9% of them underestimated it. Among overweight/obese participants, 41.7% self-perceived themselves accurately. Whereas 10.6% of normal weight participants underestimated their weight status, over half (58.3%) of overweight/obese participants did so. Factors that were associated with underestimation of weight status were having overweight/obesity (BMI) and central obesity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Underestimation of weight status was frequent. Health professionals and related government agencies should develop intervention programmes to empower young people to have accurate weight status perception.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Biology, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University for Development Studies, P.O. Box TL 1883, Tamale, Ghana. Electronic address: vmogre@uds.edu.gh.
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mogre
authors.affiliation: Department of Allied Health Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University for Development Studies, P.O. Box TL 1883, Tamale, Ghana.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aleyira
authors.affiliation: Department of Allied Health Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University for Development Studies, P.O. Box TL 1883, Tamale, Ghana.
authors.forename: Rauf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nyaba
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000453:epidemiology; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D013334:Students; D013851:Thinness; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Ghana; University students; Weight status misperception; Young adults