Abstract
Objective Weight self-perceptions, or how a person perceives his/her weight status, may affect weight outcomes. We use nationally representative data from 1988-1994 and 1999-2008 to examine racial/ethnic disparities in weight self-perceptions and understand how disparities have changed over time. Design Using data from two time periods, 1988-1994 and 1999-2008, we calculated descriptive statistics, multivariate logistic regression models and predicted probabilities to examine trends in weight self-perceptions among Whites, Blacks, US-born Mexican Americans and Mexican immigrants to the USA. Setting National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) III (1988-1994) and continuous NHANES (1999-2008). Subjects Adult NHANES participants aged 18 years and older (n 37 050). Results The likelihood of self-classifying as overweight declined between 1988-1994 and 1999-2008 among all US adults, despite significant increases in mean BMI and overweight prevalence. Trends in weight self-perceptions varied by gender and between racial/ethnic groups. Whites in both time periods were more likely than racial/ethnic minorities to perceive themselves as overweight. After adjustment for other factors, disparities in weight self-perceptions between Whites and Blacks of both genders grew between survey periods (P<0·05), but differences between overweight White women and Mexican immigrants decreased (P<0·05). Conclusions Weight self-perceptions have changed during the obesity epidemic in the USA, but changes have not been consistent across racial/ethnic groups. Secular declines in the likelihood of self-classifying as overweight, particularly among Blacks, are troubling because weight self-perceptions may affect weight-loss efforts and obesity outcomes.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 2115-2125 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Public Health Nutrition |
Volume | 18 |
Issue number | 12 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Nov 20 2014 |
Fingerprint
Keywords
- Health disparities
- Obesity
- Psychosocial factors
- Race/ethnicity
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine (miscellaneous)
- Nutrition and Dietetics
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Cite this
Trends in racial/ethnic disparities in overweight self-perception among US adults, 1988-1994 and 1999-2008. / Langellier, Brent A; Glik, Deborah; Ortega, Alexander N.; Prelip, Michael L.
In: Public Health Nutrition, Vol. 18, No. 12, 20.11.2014, p. 2115-2125.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Trends in racial/ethnic disparities in overweight self-perception among US adults, 1988-1994 and 1999-2008
AU - Langellier, Brent A
AU - Glik, Deborah
AU - Ortega, Alexander N.
AU - Prelip, Michael L.
PY - 2014/11/20
Y1 - 2014/11/20
N2 - Objective Weight self-perceptions, or how a person perceives his/her weight status, may affect weight outcomes. We use nationally representative data from 1988-1994 and 1999-2008 to examine racial/ethnic disparities in weight self-perceptions and understand how disparities have changed over time. Design Using data from two time periods, 1988-1994 and 1999-2008, we calculated descriptive statistics, multivariate logistic regression models and predicted probabilities to examine trends in weight self-perceptions among Whites, Blacks, US-born Mexican Americans and Mexican immigrants to the USA. Setting National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) III (1988-1994) and continuous NHANES (1999-2008). Subjects Adult NHANES participants aged 18 years and older (n 37 050). Results The likelihood of self-classifying as overweight declined between 1988-1994 and 1999-2008 among all US adults, despite significant increases in mean BMI and overweight prevalence. Trends in weight self-perceptions varied by gender and between racial/ethnic groups. Whites in both time periods were more likely than racial/ethnic minorities to perceive themselves as overweight. After adjustment for other factors, disparities in weight self-perceptions between Whites and Blacks of both genders grew between survey periods (P<0·05), but differences between overweight White women and Mexican immigrants decreased (P<0·05). Conclusions Weight self-perceptions have changed during the obesity epidemic in the USA, but changes have not been consistent across racial/ethnic groups. Secular declines in the likelihood of self-classifying as overweight, particularly among Blacks, are troubling because weight self-perceptions may affect weight-loss efforts and obesity outcomes.
AB - Objective Weight self-perceptions, or how a person perceives his/her weight status, may affect weight outcomes. We use nationally representative data from 1988-1994 and 1999-2008 to examine racial/ethnic disparities in weight self-perceptions and understand how disparities have changed over time. Design Using data from two time periods, 1988-1994 and 1999-2008, we calculated descriptive statistics, multivariate logistic regression models and predicted probabilities to examine trends in weight self-perceptions among Whites, Blacks, US-born Mexican Americans and Mexican immigrants to the USA. Setting National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) III (1988-1994) and continuous NHANES (1999-2008). Subjects Adult NHANES participants aged 18 years and older (n 37 050). Results The likelihood of self-classifying as overweight declined between 1988-1994 and 1999-2008 among all US adults, despite significant increases in mean BMI and overweight prevalence. Trends in weight self-perceptions varied by gender and between racial/ethnic groups. Whites in both time periods were more likely than racial/ethnic minorities to perceive themselves as overweight. After adjustment for other factors, disparities in weight self-perceptions between Whites and Blacks of both genders grew between survey periods (P<0·05), but differences between overweight White women and Mexican immigrants decreased (P<0·05). Conclusions Weight self-perceptions have changed during the obesity epidemic in the USA, but changes have not been consistent across racial/ethnic groups. Secular declines in the likelihood of self-classifying as overweight, particularly among Blacks, are troubling because weight self-perceptions may affect weight-loss efforts and obesity outcomes.
KW - Health disparities
KW - Obesity
KW - Psychosocial factors
KW - Race/ethnicity
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84937122188&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84937122188&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1017/S1368980014002560
DO - 10.1017/S1368980014002560
M3 - Article
C2 - 25409833
AN - SCOPUS:84937122188
VL - 18
SP - 2115
EP - 2125
JO - Public Health Nutrition
JF - Public Health Nutrition
SN - 1368-9800
IS - 12
ER -