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Misconception about one's weight is an important barrier to weight loss in obese people, a new study has revealed. "This misperception is important because the first step in dealing with a weight problem is knowing that you have one," Margarita Teran-Garcia, said. In physical exams, the height, weight, and BMI of 3,622 18- to 20-year-old applicants were recorded and the aspiring students also completed surveys in which they reported their weight status. Among the college-aged men, 33.6% were overweight or obese, but only 16.9% described themselves as being in those categories. For women, the gap between perception and reality was smaller, 27.8% of women were actually overweight or obese, but only 21.2% believed that they were. Heavier applicants were less likely to report their weight correctly. Identifying weight problems at the beginning of adult life has important health consequences. "If these young people follow the wrong trajectory, continuing to accumulate weight, they are likely to develop heart disease and diabetes. Body Image, April 2012 |
