Psychology: Many adults inaccurately perceive their own BMI and body size

 
In a survey of 744 adults in Poland, less than two-thirds of people can correctly estimate their body mass index (BMI), and less than half can correctly determine their body size. It was revealed.A paper reporting this result will be published in Scientific Reports.

Now, Wojciech Gruszka et al. Calculated adult BMI for 2010-2011 and compared this result to the BMI and body size estimated by the study participants themselves.Participants also answered the question of how satisfied they were with their body, with an average age of 36 and females accounting for 60.7%.Participants were 21 underweight BMI (less than 18.5 kg / m326), 18.5 standard BMI (24.9-221 kg / m25.0), 29.9 overweight BMI (176-30.0 kg / mXNUMX), and XNUMX. He had a body mass index (XNUMX kg / mXNUMX or more).

Gruszka et al. Revealed that 63.5% of participants were able to correctly estimate their BMI and 49.5% were able to correctly estimate their body size.We also found that many participants underestimated their BMI and body size.17.6% of people with standard BMI estimate themselves as underweight BMI, 14.3% of those with overweight BMI estimate standard BMI, and 41.6% of those with obese BMI estimate overweight BMI. rice field.In addition, 39.8% of people who had a standard body size estimated that they had a low body size, and 35.7% of people who had an overweight body size estimated that they had a standard body size. It was estimated that 49.9% of people of size were overweight.Only a quarter (4%) of the participants said they were satisfied with their current body size, and 1% of the participants said they wanted to be smaller.Men underestimated their BMI and body size and were significantly more likely to be satisfied with their body shape than women.

Gruszka et al. Show that adults are more likely to underestimate their own BMI and body size due to the increased prevalence of obesity and the social stigma associated with obesity. He added that further research is needed to determine whether psychological interventions in body size recognition can help improve weight management.

doi: 10.1038 / s41598-021-04706-6
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Reprinted from: "Psychology: Many adults do not correctly recognize their BMI and body size'
 

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