Is Accuracy of Weight Perception Associated With Health Risk Behaviors in a Diverse Sample of Obese Adolescents?

Abstract

Current evidence is equivocal as to whether adolescent's perception of weight status is linked to both healthy and risky behaviors. This study examined the association between accurate and inaccurate perception of weight and self-reported health and risk behaviors among a diverse sample of obese, urban adolescents. Data were analyzed from 1,180 participants in the 2009 Philadelphia Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Health behaviors of obese students self-identifying as very or slightly overweight were compared to obese students who underestimated their weight status. Accurate self-identifiers of weight status were significantly more likely to report trying to lose weight, bullying victimization, and suicide attempts as compared to obese students underestimating their weight status. Findings suggest that it is important for school nurses to understand that perceived weight status confers distinct risk profiles and differing needs for health-related services related to the physical, mental, and social health of adolescents.

Nursing: promoting the health of overweight children and adolescents in the school context

“…Among the ten selected articles -all published after 2005 -seven are from the United States (19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25) , two from European countries (Sweden and Denmark) (26)(27) and one from Taiwan (28) . According to the classification of levels of evidence of the studies (18) , nine were classified as level VI (19)(20)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28) and only one as level of evidence II (21) .…”

“…According to the classification of levels of evidence of the studies (18) , nine were classified as level VI (19)(20)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28) and only one as level of evidence II (21) . The distribution of articles according to competency domains and nursing interventions is showed on chart 1 below.…”

“…Among the articles that demonstrated nursing interventions in the domain called needs assessment, two addressed psychological issues: anxiety, stress, bullying and suicide attempts (20,22) . Therefore, it is necessary to search beyond the biological understanding, for the relationship of the psychological process with weight excess in children and adolescents.…”

“…Example: hypertension and physical inactivity (24) • Assessment of the lifestyle (25) • Identification of barriers to treatment (25) • Assessment of nutritional category perceived by individuals themselves (22) • Assessment of the psychosocial context (bullying and suicide attempts) (22) • Evaluation of weight loss attempts (22) • Evaluation of weight loss attempts (22) • The use of self-assessments of motivation (25) Continued... (20) • Planning of viable strategies for treatment (25) • Use of theoretical frameworks in care planning (24) Domain 5: Implementation • Teamwork (21,28) Domain 6: Impact assessment • Evaluation of health promotion activities (19,(23)(24)26,28) • Evaluation of the difficulties and barriers to the implementation of health promotion interventions (23) • Evaluation of the intervention results (21,27) …”

Smart Homes and Sensors for Surveillance and Preventive Education at Home: Example of Obesity

“…Some researchers examined eating habits in order to explain obesity [41,75,76]. They have highlighted the relationships between environmental determinants and eating behavior.…”