Is Accurate Perception of Body Image Associated with Appropriate Weight-Control Behavior among Adolescents of the Seychelles.
- Alwan H Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (IUMSP), University Hospital Centre and University of Lausanne, Rue du Bugnon 17, 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Viswanathan B
- Paccaud F
- Bovet P
- 2011-05-24
Published in:
- Journal of obesity. - 2011
English
Background. We examined body image perception and its association with reported weight-control behavior among adolescents in the Seychelles. Methods. We conducted a school-based survey of 1432 students aging 11-17 years in the Seychelles. Perception of body image was assessed using both a closed-ended question (CEQ) and Stunkard's pictorial silhouettes (SPS). Voluntary attempts to change weight were also assessed. Results. A substantial proportion of the overweight students did not consider themselves as overweight (SPS: 24%, CEQ: 34%), and a substantial proportion of the normal-weight students considered themselves as too thin (SPS: 29%, CEQ: 15%). Logistic regression analysis showed that students with an accurate weight perception were more likely to have appropriate weight-control behavior. Conclusions. We found that substantial proportions of students had an inaccurate perception of their weight and that weight perception was associated with weight-control behavior. These findings point to forces that can drive the upwards overweight trends.
- Language
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- English
- Open access status
- gold
- Identifiers
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- DOI 10.1155/2011/817242
- PMID 21603277
- Persistent URL
- https://sonar.ch/global/documents/298045
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