Evaluation of Body Weight Perception Using Body Size Guides

Year 2024, Volume: 16 Issue: 3, 293 - 301, 29.10.2024

Sencer Kaya , Elif Ateş

https://doi.org/10.18521/ktd.1500023

Abstract

Objective: The search for new approaches in the fight against obesity has resulted in the idea of
examining the characteristics of body weight perception. The aim of this study was to determine
individuals’ body weight perceptions and to observe the association between such perceptions and
their socio-demographic characteristics and weight loss-oriented behaviors.
Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted using the Body Size Guide and the Body Weight
Attitude and Behavior Questionnaire to assess body weight perception among participants. We
assessed the frequency of accurate, under- or over-perception of participants’ own body weights and
their association with socio-demographic characteristics Data were analyzed using Chi-square tests,
Student’s t-tests, and one-way ANOVA to determine associations between weight perception and
socio-demographic characteristics.
Results: Of the 283 participants, 50.2% (142) exhibited inaccurate body weight perception (IBWP).
Significant associations were found between IBWP and gender, education level, and BMI
classification (p<0.05). The frequency of accurate body weight perception (ABWP) in participants
with a normal actual body mass index (BMI) was 76.6% (66), but only 30.8% (33) in pre-obese,
41.1% (23) in class I obese and 31.6% (6) in class II obese individuals. In addition, 52.1% (74) of
participants with IBWP under-perceived their body weight. Forty-seven (64.4%) women with IBWP
under-perceived themselves, while 42 (60.9%) of men IBWP over-perceived themselves (p=0.004).
There was a significant difference between actual BMI classes in terms of ABWP (p<0.001).
Significant differences were determined between perceived BMI classes in terms of diet, exercise and
seeking expert advice in order to lose weight (p<0.001, p=0.005, and p<0.001, respectively).
Conclusion: This study provides new insights into the prevalence and factors associated with
inaccurate body weight perception. These findings can inform targeted public health interventions to
promote accurate self-perception and encourage healthier behaviors, particularly among populations at higher risk of obesity

Keywords

Body Mass Index, Obesity, Weight Loss, Body Weight Perception

Vücut Ölçüsü Kılavuzlarını Kullanarak Vücut Ağırlığı Algısının Değerlendirilmesi

Abstract

Amaç: Obeziteyle mücadelede yeni yaklaşımların arayışı vücut ağırlığı algısının incelenmesi fikrini doğurmuştur. Bu çalışmanın amacı, bireylerin vücut ağırlığı algılarını belirlemek ve bu algılar ile sosyo-demografik özellikleri ve kilo verme odaklı davranışları arasındaki ilişkiyi gözlemlemektir.
Metot: Katılımcılarda vücut ağırlığı algısını değerlendirmek için Vücut Ölçüsü Rehberi ve Vücut Ağırlığı Tutum ve Davranış Anketi kullanarak kesitsel bir çalışma yürütüldü. Katılımcıların kendi vücut ağırlıklarını doğru, az veya çok algılama sıklığını ve bunların sosyo-demografik özelliklerle ilişkisini değerlendirdik. Veriler, kilo algısı ile sosyo-demografik özellikler arasındaki ilişkileri belirlemek için Ki-kare testleri, Student t-testleri ve tek yönlü ANOVA kullanılarak analiz edildi.
Bulgular: 283 katılımcının %50,2'si (142) yanlış vücut ağırlığı algısı (YVAA) sergiledi. YVAA ile cinsiyet, eğitim düzeyi ve BKİ sınıflandırması arasında anlamlı ilişkiler bulundu (p<0,05). Normal vücut kitle indeksi (VKİ) olan katılımcılarda doğru vücut ağırlığı algısı (DVAA) sıklığı %76,6 (66) iken, pre-obezlerde bu oran yalnızca %30,8 (33), sınıf 1 obezlerde %41,1 (23) ve sınıf 2 obezlerde %31,6 (6) idi. Ayrıca, YVAA'lı katılımcıların %52,1'i (74) vücut ağırlıklarını olduğundan az algıladı. YVAA'lı kırk yedi kadın (%64,4) kendilerini olduğundan az algılarken, YVAA’lı erkeklerin 42'si (%60,9) kendilerini olduğundan fazla algıladı (p=0,004). Gerçek BKI sınıfları arasında DVAA açısından anlamlı fark bulundu (p<0,001). Diyet, egzersiz ve kilo vermek için uzman görüşü alma açısından algılanan BKI sınıfları arasında anlamlı fark bulundu (sırasıyla p<0,001, p=0,005 ve p<0,001).
Sonuçlar: Bu çalışma, yanlış vücut ağırlığı algısının yaygınlığı ve bununla ilişkili faktörler hakkında yeni bakış açıları sunmaktadır. Bu bulgular, özellikle obezite riski daha yüksek olan popülasyonlarda doğru öz algıyı teşvik etmek ve daha sağlıklı davranışları desteklemek için halk sağlığı müdahalelerine bilgi sağlayabilir.

Keywords

Vücut Kitle İndeksi, Obezite, Ağırlık kaybı, Vücut ağırlığı algısı

References

• Schilder P. The image and appearance of the human body: Routledge; 2013.
• 2. Ata A, Vural A, Keskin F. Beden algısı ve obezite. Ankara Medical Journal. 2014;14(3).
• 3. Laus MF, Miranda VPN, Almeida SS, Braga Costa TM, Ferreira MEC. Geographic location, sex and nutritional status play an important role in body image concerns among Brazilian adolescents. Journal of health psychology. 2013;18(3):332-8.
• 4. Alipour B, Farhangi MA, Dehghan P, Alipour M. Body image perception and its association with body mass index and nutrient intakes among female college students aged 18–35 years from Tabriz, Iran. Eating and Weight Disorders-Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity. 2015;20(4):465-71.
• 5. Burns C, Tijhuis M, Seidell J. The relationship between quality of life and perceived body weight and dieting history in Dutch men and women. International journal of obesity. 2001;25(9):1386.
• 6. Dorsey RR, Eberhardt MS, Ogden CL. Racial/ethnic differences in weight perception. Obesity. 2009;17(4):790-5.
• 7. Karakaya K, Baran E, Tüzün H, Göçmen L, Erata M, Arıkan Đ, et al. Türkiye beden ağırlığı algısı Araştırması. Sağlık Bakanlığı, Sağlığın Geliştirilmesi Genel Müdürlüğü, Ankara. 2012.
• 8. Baranowski T, Cullen KW, Nicklas T, Thompson D, Baranowski J. Are current health behavioral change models helpful in guiding prevention of weight gain efforts? Obesity research. 2003;11(S10):23S-43S.
• 9. Burke MA, Heiland FW, Nadler CM. From “overweight” to “about right”: evidence of a generational shift in body weight norms. Obesity. 2010;18(6):1226-34.
• 10. Moore SE, Harris C, Wimberly Y. Perception of weight and threat to health. Journal of the national medical association. 2010;102(2):119.
• 11. Rahman M, Berenson AB. Self-perception of weight and its association with weight-related behaviors in young reproductive-age women. Obstetrics and gynecology. 2010;116(6):1274.
• 12. Brener ND, Eaton DK, Lowry R, McManus T. The association between weight perception and BMI among high school students. Obesity research. 2004;12(11):1866-74.
• 13. Harris C, Bradlyn A, Coffman J, Gunel E, Cottrell L. BMI-based body size guides for women and men: development and validation of a novel pictorial method to assess weight-related concepts. International Journal of Obesity. 2008;32(2):336.
• 14. Obezite Lipid Metabolizması Hipertansiyon Çalışma Grubu TEvMD. Obezite Tanı ve Tedavi Kılavuzu 2018 [cited 10 Ekim 2018. Available from: http://temd.org.tr/admin/uploads/tbl_kilavuz/20180516162841-2018-05-16tbl_kilavuz162840.pdf.
• 15. Joo YY, Kim J, Lee K, Cho GJ, Yi KW. Misperception of body weight and associated socioeconomic and health-related factors among Korean female adults: a nationwide population-based study. Frontiers in Endocrinology. 2022;13:1007129.
• 16. Satman I, Grubu T-IÇ. TURDEP-II Sonuçları. Türk Endokronoloji ve Metabolizma Derneği [homepage on the internet]. 2011.
• 17. Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu, TÜİK. Türkiye Sağlık Araştırması [Internet]. 2016 [cited 2017 Mayıs 31]. Available from: http://tuik.gov.tr/PreHaberBultenleri.do?id=24573#.
• 18. Ural D, Kılıçkap M, Göksülük H, Karaaslan SDD, Kayıkçıoğlu M, Özer N, et al. Türkiye’de obezite sıklığı ve bel çevresi verileri: Kardiyovasküler risk faktörlerine yönelik epidemiyolojik çalışmaların sistematik derleme, meta-analiz ve meta-regresyonu. Turk Kardiyol Dern Ars. 2018;46(7):577-90.
• 19. Khalesi M, Nasiri E, Samadi A. Prevalence of Body Weight Misperception Among Female University Students and its Relationship with Anthropometric Indices: A Concept for Overweight and Obesity Management. Journal of Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences. 2024;30(6):732-41.
• 20. Inoue M, Toyokawa S, Miyoshi Y, Miyano Y, Suzuki T, Suyama Y, et al. Degree of agreement between weight perception and body mass index of Japanese workers: MY Health Up Study. Journal of occupational health. 2007;49(5):376-81.
• 21. Stock C, Kücük N, Miseviciene I, Petkeviciene J, Krämer A. Misperceptions of body shape among university students from Germany and Lithuania. Health education. 2004;104(2):113-21.
• 22. Gutierrez-Fisac J, Garcia EL, Rodriguez-Artalejo F, Banegas JB, Guallar-Castillon P. Self-perception of being overweight in Spanish adults. European journal of clinical nutrition. 2002;56(9):866.
• 23. Güven AT, Özdede M, Eroğlu BÇ. Weight Misperception is Prevalent Among Turkish Adults and Associated with Higher Age, Body Mass Index and Lower Education Status. Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity. 2024:2831-43.
• 24. Althumiri NA, Basyouni MH, BinDhim NF, Alqahtani SA. Levels and associations of weight misperception with healthy lifestyle among adults in Saudi Arabia. Obesity Facts. 2021;14(6):586-92.
• 25. Kim DS, Kim HS, Cho Y, Cho SI. The effects of actual and perceived body weight on unhealthy weight control behaviors and depressed mood among adult women in Seoul, Korea. J Prev Med Public Health. 2008;41(5):323-30.
• 26. Monteagudo Sánchez C, Dijkstra S, Visser M. Self-perception of body weight status in older Dutch adults. The journal of nutrition, health & aging. 2015;19:612-8.
• 27. Caleyachetty R, Kengne AP, Muennig P, Rutter H, Echouffo-Tcheugui JB. Misperception of body weight among overweight or obese adults in Mauritius. Obesity research & clinical practice. 2016;10(2):216-9.
• 28. Alwan H, Viswanathan B, Williams J, Paccaud F, Bovet P. Association between weight perception and socioeconomic status among adults in the Seychelles. BMC public health. 2010;10(1):467.
• 29. Ogden CL, Fakhouri TH, Carroll MD, Hales CM, Fryar CD, Li X, et al. Prevalence of obesity among adults, by household income and education—United States, 2011–2014. MMWR Morbidity and mortality weekly report. 2017;66(50):1369.
• 30. Gao Q, Li R, Chen Z, Yin W, Liao G, Zhang H, et al. Weight self-perception and weight loss attempts in Chinese cardiovascular patients and non-cardiovascular patients: evidence from a population-based study. BMC Public Health. 2023;23(1):707.
• 31. Wan Abdul Hamed WN, Abd Aziz NA. Barriers in adopting healthy body weight among Malaysian population: A cross-sectional study of body weight perception and misperception versus actual body weight. Journal of primary care & community health. 2020;11:2150132720907472.
• 32. Duncan DT, Wolin KY, Scharoun-Lee M, Ding EL, Warner ET, Bennett GG. Does perception equal reality? Weight misperception in relation to weight-related attitudes and behaviors among overweight and obese US adults. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. 2011;8(1):20.
• 33. Johnson WD, Bouchard C, Newton Jr RL, Ryan DH, Katzmarzyk PT. Ethnic Differences in Self‐reported and Measured Obesit. Obesity. 2009;17(3):571-7.
• 34. Ver Ploeg ML, Chang HH, Lin BH. Over, under, or about right: misperceptions of body weight among food stamp participants. Obesity. 2008;16(9):2120-5.
• 35. Gregory CO, Blanck HM, Gillespie C, Maynard LM, Serdula MK. Health perceptions and demographic characteristics associated with underassessment of body weight. Obesity. 2008;16(5):979-86.
• 36. Lemon SC, Rosal MC, Zapka J, Borg A, Andersen V. Contributions of weight perceptions to weight loss attempts: differences by body mass index and gender. Body image. 2009;6(2):90-6.