| Objective: The purpose of the current study was to examine the relationship between gender, ethnicity, and media use (television and computer) on the risk of overweight misperception among normal weight adolescents.;Design & Participants: The present study was a quantitative, descriptive, secondary analysis of existing cross-sectional data from the 2011 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). The sample included 9,568 normal weight adolescents as determined by body mass index (BMI) based on self-reported height and weight. Adolescents were divided into groups according to accuracy of weight perception: accurate perceivers (n = 7,967) and overweight misperceivers (n = 1,330). Time spent watching television and on the computer were condensed into three groups representing Low, Moderate, and High use.;Methods: Descriptive statistics and prevalence estimates were calculated. Independent samples t-tests and factorial ANOVA were performed to investigate weight differences between accurate perceivers and overweight misperceivers, and if these differences were dependent on gender. Chi-square analyses were utilized to identify gender, ethnic, and media use (television and computer) differences in overweight misperception as well as severe overweight misperception. Odds ratios (OR) were calculated to describe the risk of overweight misperception and severe overweight misperception.;Results: There were 13.9% of normal weight adolescents, who inaccurately perceived themselves as overweight, though weight statistics indicated overweight misperceivers were heavier than accurate perceivers ( p < 0.01). This difference was not dependent on gender. In terms of severity of overweight misperception, there were no differences in weight between those, who identified as "slightly overweight" versus "very overweight." Risk of overweight misperception in girls was nearly three times that of boys (p < 0.01), while Black/African American race was associated with a lower likelihood (p < 0.01). However, gender and ethnicity were not related to severity of overweight misperception. With regard to media use, overweight misperceivers spent significantly more time on the computer (p < 0.05). Finally, an association between higher levels of both television and computer use and severity of overweight misperception was supported (p < 0.05).;Conclusion: Findings highlight the importance of considering gender and ethnicity as risk (or protective) factors for overweight misperception in normal weight adolescents. Results also suggest higher levels of computer use are associated with risk of overweight misperception as well as severity of overweight misperception, while higher levels of television use are only associated with severity of overweight misperception. It would be beneficial to teach adolescents media literacy techniques and for parents to limit media use, especially time spent on the computer. Moreover, overweight misperception should be incorporated into models of body dissatisfaction and should be considered when working with adolescents, who demonstrate this form of inaccurate weight perception. |
