TY - JOUR

T1 - Misperception of body weight among overweight Danish adults

T2 - trends from 1995 to 2008

AU - Matthiessen, Jeppe

AU - Biltoft-Jensen, Anja

AU - Fagt, Sisse

AU - Knudsen, Vibeke Kildegaard

AU - Tetens, Inge

AU - Groth, Margit Velsing

PY - 2014

Y1 - 2014

N2 - OBJECTIVE: To examine changes in the prevalence of overweight and weight misperception among overweight Danes from 1995 to 2008, and to identify factors associated with weight misperception.DESIGN: Cross-sectional studies, in which data on self-reported weight, height and self-perception of overweight status were obtained through face-to-face interviews. 'Overweight' includes obesity. Weight misperception was defined as overweight individuals who did not perceive themselves as overweight. The χ 2 test was used to analyse changes over time and multiple logistic regression analysis was applied to identify factors associated with weight misperception.SETTING: The Danish National Survey of Diet and Physical Activity in three periods: 1995, 2000-2004 and 2005-2008.SUBJECTS: A random sample of 9623 Danes aged 15-75 years.RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight increased in men and women from 1995 to 2005-2008 (from 35·1 % to 43·0 %, P < 0·001). Concurrently, there was a reduction in the proportion of overweight men (from 77·5 % to 71·4 %, P = 0·001) and women (from 54·8 % to 51·9 %, P = 0·24) who misperceived their weight. Factors associated with weight misperception were 'never intend to eat healthily' (men), high levels of leisure-time physical activity, 'very good/excellent' self-rated health and survey year (higher misperception in 2000-2004 than 2005-2008; P < 0·05).CONCLUSIONS: The increase in overweight from 1995 to 2005-2008 was accompanied by a reduction in the proportion of overweight men misperceiving their weight. This may indicate that more men see overweight as a personally relevant health problem. Our findings also suggest that overweight individuals who are more physically active and have better self-rated health may not consider their excess weight a health problem.

AB - OBJECTIVE: To examine changes in the prevalence of overweight and weight misperception among overweight Danes from 1995 to 2008, and to identify factors associated with weight misperception.DESIGN: Cross-sectional studies, in which data on self-reported weight, height and self-perception of overweight status were obtained through face-to-face interviews. 'Overweight' includes obesity. Weight misperception was defined as overweight individuals who did not perceive themselves as overweight. The χ 2 test was used to analyse changes over time and multiple logistic regression analysis was applied to identify factors associated with weight misperception.SETTING: The Danish National Survey of Diet and Physical Activity in three periods: 1995, 2000-2004 and 2005-2008.SUBJECTS: A random sample of 9623 Danes aged 15-75 years.RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight increased in men and women from 1995 to 2005-2008 (from 35·1 % to 43·0 %, P < 0·001). Concurrently, there was a reduction in the proportion of overweight men (from 77·5 % to 71·4 %, P = 0·001) and women (from 54·8 % to 51·9 %, P = 0·24) who misperceived their weight. Factors associated with weight misperception were 'never intend to eat healthily' (men), high levels of leisure-time physical activity, 'very good/excellent' self-rated health and survey year (higher misperception in 2000-2004 than 2005-2008; P < 0·05).CONCLUSIONS: The increase in overweight from 1995 to 2005-2008 was accompanied by a reduction in the proportion of overweight men misperceiving their weight. This may indicate that more men see overweight as a personally relevant health problem. Our findings also suggest that overweight individuals who are more physically active and have better self-rated health may not consider their excess weight a health problem.

KW - Adolescent

KW - Adult

KW - Aged

KW - Body Image

KW - Body Weight

KW - Cross-Sectional Studies

KW - Denmark

KW - Exercise

KW - Female

KW - Health Behavior

KW - Health Status

KW - Humans

KW - Male

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Obesity

KW - Overweight

KW - Perception

KW - Prevalence

KW - Self Concept

KW - Young Adult

KW - Journal Article

U2 - 10.1017/S1368980013001444

DO - 10.1017/S1368980013001444

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 23735172

VL - 17

SP - 1439

EP - 1446

JO - Public Health Nutrition

JF - Public Health Nutrition

SN - 1368-9800

IS - 7

ER -