Changing perceptions of weight in Great Britain
Author Information
Author(s): F Johnson, L Cooke, H Croker, J Wardle
Primary Institution: Cancer Research UK Health Behaviour Research Centre, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London
Hypothesis
How have public perceptions of overweight changed in Great Britain over an eight-year period?
Conclusion
Despite health campaigns, more overweight individuals fail to recognize their weight as a concern.
Supporting Evidence
- In 1999, 81% of overweight participants identified as overweight, compared to 75% in 2007.
- The proportion of respondents classified as obese nearly doubled from 11% to 19% between 1999 and 2007.
- Women in the 2007 sample were slightly older than those in the 1999 sample.
Takeaway
People in Great Britain are less likely to think they are overweight now than they were eight years ago, even though more people are actually overweight.
Methodology
Comparison of self-reported weight and perceptions from two population surveys conducted in 1999 and 2007.
Potential Biases
Potential social desirability bias in self-reported data.
Limitations
Self-reported data may lead to inaccuracies in weight and height measurements.
Participant Demographics
Participants included 853 men and 944 women in 1999, and 847 men and 989 women in 2007.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.001
Confidence Interval
95% CI
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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