title: Overweight or about right? A norm comparison explanation of perceived weight status.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Body-weight norms may explain why personal evaluations of weight status are often inaccurate. Here, we tested a 'norm comparison' explanation of weight status perceptions, whereby personal evaluations of weight status are biased by perceived body-weight norms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Study 1 examined whether perceptions of how one's own body weight compares to an average person predict personal evaluations of weight status. Study 2 examined whether manipulating perceptions of how one's own body weight compares to an average person influences whether or not a person identifies their own weight status as being overweight.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In Study 1, if participants rated their body weight as being similar to the body weight of an average person, they were less likely to identify their weight status as being overweight. In Study 2, participants that were led to believe that their body weight was heavier than the average person were more likely to perceive their own weight status as being overweight.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Personal perceptions of weight status are likely to be shaped by a 'norm comparison' process. As overweight becomes more normal, underestimation of weight status amongst individuals with overweight and obesity will be more common.
authors.affiliation: Psychological Sciences University of Liverpool Liverpool UK.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.affiliation: Psychological Sciences University of Liverpool Liverpool UK.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kersbergen
keywords: Body image; norms; perceived weight; weight status misperceptions