Associations Between Activity and Weight Perception among Adults: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007-2010

Background: Weight misperception is associated with low levels of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) among adults. However, little is known about the associations between various types of activity with weight perception. We examined associations between various types of activity (moderate-vigorous LTPA, moderate-vigorous work- and transportation-related physical activity, and sedentary activity) and weight misperception among adults.

Methods: We used cross-sectional data from 20,686 NHANES 2007-2010 participants aged 20+ years with a body mass index of ≥30. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to estimate associations between types of activity and weight misperception. Weight misperception was classified as participants self-reporting themselves at the right weight or underweight. Models were adjusted for age, gender, education, and race/ethnicity.

Results: In adjusted models, individuals who performed some total activity, relative to being inactive, were significantly more likely to misperceive their weight (Odds Ratio (OR): 1.74; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.11, 2.73). The adjusted analyses also showed that those who engaged in medium and high levels of sedentary activity, relative to low levels, were less likely to misperceive their weight (OR: 0.59; 95% CI: 0.43, 0.79 and OR: 0.52; 95% CI: 0.40, 0.69, respectively). Individuals who engaged in high levels of transportation activity were significantly more likely to misperceive their weight (OR: 1.56; 95% CI: 1.21, 2.09).

Conclusion: These findings suggest that medium to high levels of physical activity and sedentary activity are associated with weight misperception. Variation in the association of activity with weight misperception should be considered when developing physical activity promotion programs.