Misperception of body weight among overweight Danish adults: trends from 1995 to 2008

Jeppe Matthiessen; Anja Biltoft-Jensen; Sisse Fagt; Vibeke Kildegaard Knudsen; Inge Tetens; Margit Velsing Groth

doi:10.1017/s1368980013001444

Misperception of body weight among overweight Danish adults: trends from 1995 to 2008

Jeppe Matthiessen, Anja Biltoft-Jensen, Sisse Fagt, Vibeke Kildegaard Knudsen, Inge Tetens, Margit Velsing Groth

15 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

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.

Original language	English
Journal	Public Health Nutrition
Volume	17
Issue number	7
Pages (from-to)	1439-1446
Number of pages	8
ISSN	1368-9800
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1017/s1368980013001444
Publication status	Published - Jul 2014
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Body Image
Body Weight
Cross-Sectional Studies
Denmark
Exercise
Female
Health Behavior
Health Status
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Obesity
Overweight
Perception
Prevalence
Self Concept
Young Adult
Journal Article

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1017/s1368980013001444

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Cite this

@article{9b9e455ad74f4e2fa9b5476b674eed2d,

title = "Misperception of body weight among overweight Danish adults: trends from 1995 to 2008",

abstract = "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.",

keywords = "Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Body Image, Body Weight, Cross-Sectional Studies, Denmark, Exercise, Female, Health Behavior, Health Status, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Obesity, Overweight, Perception, Prevalence, Self Concept, Young Adult, Journal Article",

author = "Jeppe Matthiessen and Anja Biltoft-Jensen and Sisse Fagt and Knudsen, {Vibeke Kildegaard} and Inge Tetens and Groth, {Margit Velsing}",

year = "2014",

month = jul,

doi = "10.1017/s1368980013001444",

language = "English",

volume = "17",

pages = "1439--1446",

journal = "Public Health Nutrition",

issn = "1368-9800",

publisher = "Cambridge University Press",

number = "7",

}

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 - 2014/7

Y1 - 2014/7

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

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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

SN - 1368-9800

VL - 17

SP - 1439

EP - 1446

JO - Public Health Nutrition

JF - Public Health Nutrition

IS - 7

ER -

Misperception of body weight among overweight Danish adults: trends from 1995 to 2008

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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