Body Weight Perception, Mental Health, and Weight Control Behavior in Normal Weight Adolescents: Based on the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013-2015

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the body weight perception of adolescents and to investigate the difference between mental health and weight control behavior according to body weight perception. Methods: Study data on 12-18 years old adolescents with normal BMI was obtained from the 6th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013-2015). Rao-Scott Chi-square test and ANOVA were used for the analysis. Results: The percentage of adolescents with a misperception of body weight was 43.3%, and their subjective health status (p=.013), stress perception (p=.001), and depression (p=.001) were worse than for adolescents who had the correct perception of their body weight. The percentage of adolescents who were trying to lose weight while perceiving their body weight as normal was 36.9%. Body weight control behavior had significant differences according to dietary intake (frequency of eating dinner (p=.015)), energy intake (p=.004), and carbohydrate intake (p<.001), but there was no significant difference according to exercise. Conclusion: Parents, school teachers, and nurses should make efforts to ensure that Korean adolescents perceive their body weight correctly, and prevent unhealthy weight control behaviors.