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. 2019 Jun;9(2):116-124.
doi: 10.2991/jegh.k.190518.002.

Predictors of Persistent Body Weight Misclassification from Adolescence Period to Adulthood: A Longitudinal Study

Abdulaziz Dakhel Aloufi  1   2 , Jake Moses Najman  2   3 , Abdullah Al Mamun  2   4
Affiliations

Predictors of Persistent Body Weight Misclassification from Adolescence Period to Adulthood: A Longitudinal Study

Abdulaziz Dakhel Aloufi et al. J Epidemiol Glob Health. 2019 Jun.

Abstract

This study examined whether body weight misclassification continues from adolescence to adulthood and the associated predictors behind that misclassification. Data are from a sample of a longitudinal Australian birth-cohort study. Data analyses were restricted to 2938 participants whose measured and perceived body weights were recorded during their adolescence and adulthood follow-ups. To identify misclassification, we objectively compared their measured and perceived body weights at each follow-up. Potential predictors during early life or adolescence periods were included in data analyses. At each follow-up, underestimation was recorded more often among overweight and obese participants, whereas overestimation was mostly recorded among underweight ones. Over 40% males and females were able to correctly estimate their body weight at one follow-up, whereas almost 30% males and 40% females were able to do so in more than one follow-ups. One-third females and 45% males underestimated their body weight at one follow-up, whereas 13% females and a quarter of males were able to do so in more than one follow-ups. Being female, dieting, being overweight, having an overweight mother, and having poor mental health were the most significant predictors for more than one follow-up misclassifications. Further studies are needed to evaluate the impact of persistent misclassification on population health benefits.

Keywords: Adolescent; adult; body weight; predictor; weight perception.

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Conflict of interest statement

None of the authors declared any conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Body weight misclassifications patterns from 14- to 30-year follow-up across different BMI categories.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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