Body Weight Overestimation in Adolescents and Its Relationship with Weight Management Behavior
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Date
2015-05
Authors
Reifenberg, Grace
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The Ohio State University
Abstract
In the United States, 20 million men and women suffer from a clinically significant eating disorder at some time in their life. The National Eating Disorder Association reports that by age six, girls especially start to express concerns about their own weight. Eating disorders are often associated with adolescents’ prior risky behaviors such as poor weight management strategies, as well as inaccurate body image. Early identification of this at-risk population is crucial in order for preventive measures to be successful. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine distorted body image (body weight overestimation in normal or underweight adolescents) and the relationship that this outlook has on weight management strategies.
The population sample came from the 2013 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) that was established through the Center for Disease Control as part of their Youth Risk Surveillance System. This is an annual, national survey given to high school students focused on identifying risky behaviors and experiences. This study is a retrospective cross-sectional design and data files were downloaded through the YRBS website and were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) for complex samples.
Analysis indicates that 11.1% of high school adolescents overestimate their weight, perceiving themselves to be heavier than they actually are. Of these over-estimators, 82.6% of them are trying to lose weight. In addition, it was discovered that these over-estimators are two to three times more likely to engage in negative weight management behavior, the most prevalent of which was fasting.
This study is important because overestimation of body weight in under or normal weight high school adolescents from high school is related to abnormal weight management. Early identification could help identify at-risk adolescents and aid in early preventive efforts.
Description
Awarded 3rd place in the Health Professions - Clinical category in the 2015 Denman Undergraduate Research Forum
Keywords
Body Weight Overestimation, Body Image, Weight Perception, Weight Management Behavior