Changing perceptions of weight in Great Britain: comparison of two population surveys

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To examine changes in public perceptions of overweight in Great Britain over an eight year period. DESIGN: Comparison of data on self perceived weight from population surveys in 1999 and 2007. SETTING: Household surveys of two representative samples in Great Britain. PARTICIPANTS: 853 men and 944 women in 1999, and 847 men and 989 women in 2007. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Participants were asked to report their weight and height and classify their body size on a scale from "very underweight" to "obese." RESULTS: Self reported weights increased dramatically over time, but the weight at which people perceived themselves to be overweight also rose significantly. In 1999, 81% of overweight participants correctly identified themselves as overweight compared with 75% in 2007, demonstrating a decrease in sensitivity in the self diagnosis of overweight. CONCLUSIONS: Despite media and health campaigns aiming to raise awareness of healthy weight, increasing numbers of overweight people fail to recognise that their weight is a cause for concern. This makes it less likely that they will see calls for weight control as personally relevant.

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Cited by papers we hold 4

• Body size perception, knowledge about obesity and factors associated with lifestyle change among patients, health care professionals and public health experts · 2021
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• Weight perceptions in older adults: findings from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing · 2020
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• Overweight but unseen: a review of the underestimation of weight status and a visual normalization theory · 2017
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• Does perception equal reality? Weight misperception in relation to weight-related attitudes and behaviors among overweight and obese US adults · 2011
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