Weight Perception and Mental Health in Chinese Adolescents
Author Information
Author(s): Tang Jie, Yu Yizhen, Du Yukai, Ma Ying, Zhu Huiping, Liu Zhuoya
Primary Institution: Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology
Hypothesis
Individuals who have a discrepancy between perceived weight and actual weight would be more likely to report symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Conclusion
Perceived weight status, but not the actual weight status, was associated with psychological symptoms.
Supporting Evidence
- Girls were more likely to misperceive themselves as overweight.
- Boys misclassified their weight status as underweight more often than girls.
- Adolescents who perceived themselves as overweight experienced more depressive and anxiety symptoms.
- No significant association was found between actual weight status and psychological symptoms.
Takeaway
This study found that how teenagers see their weight affects their feelings, even if their actual weight is normal.
Methodology
A cross-sectional study using a sample of 1144 adolescents, measuring actual weight, perceived weight, and psychological symptoms.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to self-reported measures and the exclusion of certain demographics.
Limitations
The study did not consider socioeconomic status and used a cross-sectional design, limiting causal inferences.
Participant Demographics
1144 adolescents aged 10-17, including 665 boys and 479 girls from urban and rural schools in Wuhan, China.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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