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Weight Perception and Dietary Intake among Chinese Youth, 2004–2009

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Abstract

Background

Little is known on the extent of weight misperception and its relation with dietary intake among Chinese youth.

Purpose

The study aimed to investigate extent and correlates of weight misperception and its relation with dietary intake among Chinese youth.

Method

Data pertaining to Chinese youth, 6–17 years of age, from the 2004–2009 China Health and Nutrition Survey (N = 3,923) were analyzed using STATA version 12.1. The heights and weights of the participants were measured by well-trained health workers at the participants' homes or a local clinic following the reference protocol recommended by the World Health Organization. The dietary intake data of the participants were collected on three consecutive days at both the household and individual levels.

Results

Of the children 6–11 years of age, 18.9 % were underweight and 15.3 % were overweight. Among the children 12–17 years of age, 18.3 % were underweight and 8.1 % were overweight. Less than 60 % of Chinese youth accurately estimated their weight status. Nutrition knowledge was positively related to a perception of being overweight (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.98, p = .007) among children 12–17 years of age. A perception of being overweight was positively associated with fat and protein intake among children 6–11 years of age (p < .05).

Conclusions

A discrepancy exists between the actual and perceived weight status of Chinese youth. Efforts are needed in China to promote accurate weight perception, healthy weight, and eating behaviors.

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Acknowledgments

This research uses data from China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS). We thank the National Institute of Nutrition and Food Safety, China Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Carolina Population Center, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the NIH (R01-HD30880, DK056350, and R01-HD38700), and the Fogarty International Center, NIH for financial support for the CHNS data collection and analysis files from 1989 to 2006 and both parties plus the China–Japan Friendship Hospital, Ministry of Health for support for CHNS 2009 and future surveys.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Health Science, Indiana University School of Public Health, Bloomington, IN, USA

    Jingjing Niu

  2. College of Health Sciences, Ewha Womans University, 52, Ewhayeodae-gil, , Soedaemoon-gu,, Seoul, 120-750, South Korea

    Dong-Chul Seo

  3. Department of Applied Health Science, Indiana University School of Public Health, Bloomington, IN, USA

    David K. Lohrmann

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  1. Jingjing Niu
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Correspondence to Dong-Chul Seo.

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Niu, J., Seo, DC. & Lohrmann, D.K. Weight Perception and Dietary Intake among Chinese Youth, 2004–2009. Int.J. Behav. Med. 21, 691–699 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-013-9332-z

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