Many overweight teenagers do not recognise they are too heavy

Many overweight teenagers do not recognise they are too heavy More than a third of overweight or obese teenagers don’t see themselves as being too heavy and think their weight is about right, according to a Cancer Research UK study published today in the International Journal of Obesity.

The study used data from around 5,000 13-15-year-olds who were asked about their weight and if they thought they were too heavy, about right or too light.

Researchers then checked their answers against their Body Mass Index (BMI) –– to see whether the reality matched the teenagers’ perceptions of themselves.

Almost three-quarters (73 per cent) of the teenagers had a BMI within the normal-weight range. A fifth (20 per cent) had a BMI in the overweight category and seven per cent were categorised as obese. Of these around 40 per cent thought they were about the right weight with very few (0.4 per cent) saying they were too light. Cancer Research UK

See also:

• Weight perceptions in a population sample of English adolescents: cause for celebration or concern? International Journal of Obesity (open access article)
• Overweight teens don't feel 'heavy' BBC News
• Obese teenagers suffer fat-blindness and think their weight is 'about right' The Daily Mail
• Overweight teenagers in denial about obesity at risk of up to 10 different types of cancer The Daily Telegraph
• Many overweight teens don’t realise they’re too heavy OnMedica