title: Measurements and profiles of body weight misperceptions among Taiwanese teenagers: a national survey.
abstract: Children and adolescents tend to lose weight, which may be associated with misperceptions of weight. Previous studies have emphasized establishing correlations between eating disorders and an overestimated perception of body weight, but few studies have focused on an underestimated perception of body weight. The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between misperceptions of body weight and weight-related risk factors, such as eating disorders, inactivity, and unhealthy behaviors, among overweight children who underestimated their body weight. We conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive study between December 1, 2006 and February 15, 2007. A total of 29,313 children and adolescents studying in grades 4-12 were enrolled in this nationwide, cross-sectional survey, and they were asked to complete questionnaires. A multivariate logistic regression using maximum likelihood estimates was used. The prevalence of body weight misperception was 43.2% (26.4% overestimation and 16.8% underestimation). Factors associated with the underestimated perception of weight among overweight children were parental obesity, dietary control for weight loss, breakfast consumption, self-induced vomiting as a weight control strategy, fried food consumption, engaging in vigorous physical activities, and sleeping for >8 hours per day (odds ratios=0.86, 0.42, 0.88, 1.37, 1.13, 1.11, and 1.17, respectively). In conclusion, the early establishment of an accurate perception of body weight may mitigate unhealthy behaviors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan.|Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ya-Wen
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan.|Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan.|Graduate Institute of Injury Prevention, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tsan-Hon
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Liou
authors.affiliation: Institute of Community Health Care, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan. Email: ymliou@ym.edu.tw.|School Health Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yiing Mei
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Liou
authors.affiliation: Institute of Public Health, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsin-Jen
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Community Health Care, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.|School Health Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Li-Yin
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Chien
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D062408:Breakfast; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D050177:Overweight / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D010290:Parents; D010465:Perception; D012737:Sex Factors; D012890:Sleep; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan