title: Misperception of body weight among overweight or obese adults in Mauritius.
abstract: In the African region, little is known about weight misperception among overweight or obese adults. We assessed the prevalence of weight misperception and predictors of weight misperception among overweight or obese adults in Mauritius. Height, weight, and self-perception of weight status data from 5736 adults (≥19 years of age), sampled in a population-based survey in 2009 were analysed. Weight status was defined using BMI calculated on the basis of measured height and weight. Information regarding self-perceived body weight, socio-demographic and self-rated health data were collected using a questionnaire.
  
  
  
  Overall 41% of overweight or obese adults misclassified their own weight status. Among adults who were overweight or obese, weight misperception was increasingly less likely among those with increasing education (men: p=0.02; women: p≤0.001) but was more likely among those who perceived their overall health as good or excellent (men: PR=1.29, 95% CI 1.10-1.52; women: PR=1.42, 95% CI 1.26-1.60). Adults who were overweight or obese, weight misperception was increasingly less likely with increasing income (men: p=0.025; women: p≤0.001). Among women who were overweight or obese, weight misperception was increasingly more likely with increasing age (p≤0.001) and those who self-reported Chinese ethnicity (PR=1.48, 95% CI 1.22-1.78).
  
  
  
  A large proportion of adults in Mauritius misperceive their own weight status, with variation by socio-demographic characteristics and self-rated health. Future studies are needed to examine if correcting misperceptions of weight status may support obesity prevention and control efforts in Mauritius.
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health and Quality of Life, Port Louis, Mauritius; MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing at University College London, UK. Electronic address: r.caleyachetty@icloud.com.
authors.forename: Rishi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Caleyachetty
authors.affiliation: South African Medical Research Council and University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney, Australia; Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Andre P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Kengne
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Policy and Management, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, NY 10032, USA.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Muennig
authors.affiliation: European Centre on Health of Societies in Transition, Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: Harry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rutter
authors.affiliation: Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA; Department of Medicine, MedStar Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Justin B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Echouffo-Tcheugui
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001835:Body Weight; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D008436:Mauritius; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Africa; Obesity; Weight misperception