Understanding the Turkish adolescents' weight perception: A cross-sectional study

Problem

Adolescence is regarded as a period in which adolescents go through a number of physical changes in appearance and a transition from childhood to adulthood. Throughout this transitional period, adolescents become more concerned with their size and weight. The aim of this study was to determine the self-perceived weights status of adolescents 11–19 years old.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 1459 students, aged 11–19 years, in Turkey. Anthropometric measurements of weight and height were measured with appropriate tools and adolescents' self-perception of weight status was assessed by the Figure Rating Scale.

Findings

Nearly half of the adolescents had misperceptions about their weight status (49.6%). There was a significant association between body mass index (BMI) z-score categories and weight status misperception. Overall, the weight status misperception was more common among the girls than boys.

Conclusion

Misperception of weight status in adolescent should take into account the following: development of intervention programs aimed at screening weight and weight perception, empowering young people to have accurate weight status perception, and raising awareness of the issue in school health professionals.