In the eye of the beholder: Body weight misperceptions among African Americans living in Kentucky.

Abstract

Body weight status misperception, perceiving one's self to be thinner than one's body mass index (BMI), is growing in the United States. At risk for lifestyle-related disease, African Americans face more dire consequences with respect to this misperception than others. In a sample of African American Kentuckians, we found a moderate level of body weight status misperception. Educational attainment was the strongest predictor of body weight status misperception, with more education associated with less misperception. These findings suggest that health communication for African Americans should address body weight status misperception and be tailored for individuals' level of educational attainment.