1. Objectifs

Intentions :
«In this study, we aim to investigate whether children and adolescents who live with overweight parents and attend schools with overweight schoolmates are more likely to misperceive (or underestimate) their weight status. Using a population-based sample, the specific study objectives were to assess (1) the extent to which children and adolescents’ perception of their weight status concurs with measured weight and (2) whether being exposed to overweight/obese people at home or in school is associated with misperception.» (p. 1009)

Questions/Hypothèses :
«We hypothesized that misperception would be more common among overweight and obese youth and that misperception would be greater among those exposed to overweight/obesity at home and in school.» (p. 1009)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
Quebec Child and Adolescent Health and Social Survey (3665 children and adolescents)

Instruments :
Stunkard Body Rating Scale

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse statistique

3. Résumé

«Obesity prevention in childhood is important. However, changing children’s lifestyle behaviors to reduce overweight is a substantial challenge. Accurately perceiving oneself as overweight/obese has been linked to greater motivation to change lifestyle behaviors. Children and adolescents may be less likely to perceive themselves as overweight/obese if they are exposed to overweight/obese people in their immediate environments. This study examined whether youth who are exposed to overweight parents and schoolmates were more likely to misperceive their own weight status.» (p. 1008) The study showed, indeed, that «[c]hildren and adolescents who live in environments in which people they see on a daily basis, such as parents and schoolmates, are overweight/obese may develop inaccurate perceptions of what constitutes appropriate weight status. Targeting misperception may facilitate the adoption of healthy lifestyle behaviors and improve the effectiveness of obesity prevention interventions.» (p. 1008)