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Title: African American Women's Perception of Their Own Weight Status Compared to Measured Weight Status

Author
item LOFTON, KRISTI - UNIV SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI
item CONNELL, CAROL - UNIV SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI
item YADRICK, M - UNIV SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI
item BROWN, DENISE - UNIV SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI
item BOUNDS, WENDY - UNIV SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI
item SIMS, PATRICIA - UNIV SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI
item JOHNSON, JAMES - UNIV SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI

Submitted to: Journal of Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/30/2007
Publication Date: 4/30/2007
Citation: Lofton, K.L., Connell, C.L., Yadrick, M.K., Brown, D., Bounds, W., Sims, P., Johnson, J. 2007. African American women's perception of their own weight status compared to measured weight status [abstract]. Journal of Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. 21(5):A1057.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Previous research indicates that African American (AA) women may be more accepting of larger body sizes compared with women of other races. This study assessed whether AA women perceived their own weight status accurately, when compared with their actual weight classification. Participants were 528 AA females enrolling their children in five Head Start centers in a southern state. Participants were asked to report their height and weight and classify their weight status as underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese on a self-administered survey. Measured heights and weights were obtained by trained research assistants. Self reported data were compared to measured heights and weights, and computed BMI using NIH criteria. A chi-square test of independence comparing women’s perceptions to actual weight classification was significant (X squared (N=528, df = 9) = 347.507, p<.000). Of the 528 participants, 415 had a BMI>30 kg/m squared. 48.5% of the 103 women who perceived their weight status as normal were overweight and 78.8% of 312 women who perceived their weight status as overweight were obese. These Results suggest a need for more culturally tailored programs for AA women that increase self awareness of weight status and its health consequences while promoting healthy lifestyle behaviors.