Self-Reported versus Measured Height, Weight and Body Mass Index in Spanish Mediterranean Teenagers: Effects of Gender, Age and Weight on Perceptual …

2002

<i>Background:</i> To have a good physical appearance is a determining factor by which adolescents show a tendency to worry excessively about their weight. The aim of this work is to study the possible relationship between actual and perceived body weight, how it is considered and what strategies are followed for weight control among adolescents residing in Valencia. <i>Methods:</i> A sample of 568 students, 325 girls and 243 boys, aged 14–20 years, were selected from public high schools in Valencia. Their height and weight were used to calculate their actual body mass index (BMIO). The subjective perception of their physical measurements (BMIS) was evaluated by mean…