Overweight or about right? A norm comparison explanation of perceived weight status.

Robinson, E ORCID: 0000-0003-3586-5533 and Kersbergen, I ORCID: 0000-0002-8799-8963 (2017) Overweight or about right? A norm comparison explanation of perceived weight status. Obesity science & practice, 3 (1). pp. 36-43.

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Abstract

<h4>Objectives</h4>Body-weight norms may explain why personal evaluations of weight status are often inaccurate. Here, we tested a 'norm comparison' explanation of weight status perceptions, whereby personal evaluations of weight status are biased by perceived body-weight norms.<h4>Methods</h4>Study 1 examined whether perceptions of how one's own body weight compares to an average person predict personal evaluations of weight status. Study 2 examined whether manipulating perceptions of how one's own body weight compares to an average person influences whether or not a person identifies their own weight status as being overweight.<h4>Results</h4>In Study 1, if participants rated their body weight as being similar to the body weight of an average person, they were less likely to identify their weight status as being overweight. In Study 2, participants that were led to believe that their body weight was heavier than the average person were more likely to perceive their own weight status as being overweight.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Personal perceptions of weight status are likely to be shaped by a 'norm comparison' process. As overweight becomes more normal, underestimation of weight status amongst individuals with overweight and obesity will be more common.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Body image, norms, perceived weight, weight status misperceptions
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	29 Mar 2017 13:43
Last Modified:	19 Jan 2023 07:07
DOI:	10.1002/osp4.89
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3006708