​Overweight and obese adolescents commonly underestimate their weight status, considering themselves to be at a healthy weight or underweight. These adolescents are more likely to be male, older, and Latino, black, or Native American. Associations with acculturation have not been previously assessed. The goal of this study was to identify the prevalence of underestimation of weight status in Californian adolescents and to identify factors associated with this underestimation, in particular examining relationships with race/ethnicity and acculturation.

A total of 36.6 percent of overweight and obese Californian adolescents underestimated their weight status. Adolescents not born in the United States had increased odds of underestimating their weight status compared to those born in the United States. Researchers concluded that identification of individuals at increased odds of underestimating their weight status may be important in developing and targeting appropriate counseling and interventions to ameliorate long-term health risks of excess weight.   Data from the 2005 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) was used in this study.

Publication Authors:

• Leslie Gee
• et al