The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #61590

Darrin M. Ray¹, May Nawal Lutfiyya, PhD², Bernadette M. Ray¹, and Jennifer Wisdom-Behounek³. (1) University of Illinois College of Medicine, 1601 Parkview Ave., Rockford, IL 61109, (2) Family and Community Medicine, University of Illinois, 1601 Parkview Avenue, Rockford, IL 61107, 815-395-5783, lutfiyya@uic.edu, (3) Rural Medical Education, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 1601 Parkview Ave., Rockford, IL 61109

Purpose: Investigation of depression, suicide rates, and weight loss methods of adolescents whose perceived weight status was drastically different from their recorded BMI. Methods: The Youth Risk Behavior Survey data from 1999 and 2001 were used for this analysis. BMIs were calculated and these were cross-tabulated with perception of body weight. Two groups of adolescents were identified as having misperceptions of their body weight – those with a BMI greater than 25 yet reporting that they were slightly or very underweight and those with a BMI of less than 25 reporting that they were slightly or very overweight. Results: Both studied groups showed results significant for gender and race. Males were significantly more likely to engage in vomiting/laxative use to lose weight and females were more likely to engage in fasting, taking diet pills, exercising and eating less to lose weight. Females were more likely to report having considered suicide while males were more likely to report planning suicide. That data significant for race indicated that Caucasians were more likely to participate in weight loss behaviors than other races. Conclusions: A misperception of weight status is associated with depression, suicide, and unhealthy weight loss methods. Recognizing an adolescent’s misperception of weight could trigger the need for further evaluation of mental and physical health.

Learning Objectives:

After viewing our poster presentation, participants will be able to:
• Understand the misperceptions of weight status in adolescents compared to actual body mass index.
• Describe the associations of depression, suicide, and weight loss behaviors compared to a misperception of weight.
• List the significant differences in gender and race when studying misperceptions of weight, depression, suicide, and weight loss behaviors.

Keywords: Adolescents, Mental Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.