The Relationship of Perceived and Actual Weight in Minority Adolescents
The prevalence of overweight in adolescents with its associated outcomes continues to be a major public health concern. The purpose of this study was to assess whether adolescents perceived their weight accurately and to determine the relationships among perceived and actual weight, depression, anxiety, anger, disruptive behavior, and self-concept in minority adolescents. A descriptive, correlational design was conducted with 33 adolescents. Questions regarding weight perception, depression, anxiety, anger, disruptive behavior, and self-concept were correlated with body fat percentile, body mass index (BMI), and BMI percentile. Findings indicated that adolescent perception of overweight was positively related to actual weight and negatively related to self-esteem and disruptive behavior. Adolescents who were overweight identified their weight accurately and tried to lose weight.
Key words: Overweight adolescent, BMI greater or equal to the 95th percentile
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Previous Presentations:
Melnyk, B.M. & O'Haver, J. The COPE healthy lifestyles TEEN program: Feasibility, Preliminary Efficacy and Lessons learned. Healthy Adolescents; Building the Future. 10th Annual Arizona Adolescent Health Coalition Conference, Scottsdale, AZ. March 15, 2007.
Melnyk. B., Small, L., Mays, M., Jacobson, D., Kelly, S. & O'Haver, J. Efficacy of Healthy Lifestyles Intervention with Latino Adolescents. The Western Institute of Nursing, Portland, OR, April 12–14, 2007.
O'Haver, J. The COPE Healthy Lifestyles TEEN Program: An Evidenced Based Practice Approach. Evidence Based Practice Conference, Phoenix Children's Hospital, Phoenix, AZ, July 17, 2007.
PII: S0882-5963(08)00333-3
doi:10.1016/j.pedn.2008.06.011
© 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
