Weight Misperception and School Absenteeism in Adolescents
Location
Atrium
Session Format
Poster Presentation
Research Area Topic:
Public Health & Well Being - Mental Health
Co-Presenters and Faculty Mentors or Advisors
John Twarog, MPH (c)
Jian Zhang, MD, DrPH
Abstract
Objective: Increased body weight is associated with excessive school absenteeism among children, but less prior literature focuses on adolescents and whether it’s perception or measured body weight that matters for those at a healthy weight.
Methods: We used the data from 3,172 adolescents ages 12-19 who were surveyed in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) conducted from 2003-2008. Actual Body Mass Index was measured during the physical examination, while self-perception of body image and the number of school days missed was assessed using the questionnaires. An average of 1 or more day missed per school month (≥10 days throughout the duration of the school year) was defined as “excessive school absenteeism.”
Results: For the adolescents aged 16-19 years with healthy weight, the prevalence of excessive school absenteeism was two times higher among those who perceived themselves as “overweight” compared to healthy weight peers who self-perceived their weight as ”just right” [21.0% (SE= 4.5) vs. 11.4% (SE = 1.4)]. The adjusted prevalence ratio (PR) of excessive school absenteeism for healthy weight adolescents who incorrectly perceived themselves as “overweight” was 1.91 (1.10 – 3.32) compared with healthy weight peers who correctly perceived their weight as being “just right”(reference).
Conclusions: According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) conducted from 2003-2008, body weight misperception rather than actual body weight significantly influences school absenteeism among healthy weight adolescents. Correcting the misperception of body weight may help to reduce school absences among adolescents.
Keywords
Weight misperception, School absenteeism, Eating disorders
Presentation Type and Release Option
Presentation (Open Access)
Start Date
4-24-2015 2:45 PM
End Date
4-24-2015 4:00 PM
Recommended Citation
Twarog, John, "Weight Misperception and School Absenteeism in Adolescents" (2015). GS4 Georgia Southern Student Scholars Symposium. 145.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/research_symposium/2015/2015/145
Weight Misperception and School Absenteeism in Adolescents
Atrium
Objective: Increased body weight is associated with excessive school absenteeism among children, but less prior literature focuses on adolescents and whether it’s perception or measured body weight that matters for those at a healthy weight.
Methods: We used the data from 3,172 adolescents ages 12-19 who were surveyed in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) conducted from 2003-2008. Actual Body Mass Index was measured during the physical examination, while self-perception of body image and the number of school days missed was assessed using the questionnaires. An average of 1 or more day missed per school month (≥10 days throughout the duration of the school year) was defined as “excessive school absenteeism.”
Results: For the adolescents aged 16-19 years with healthy weight, the prevalence of excessive school absenteeism was two times higher among those who perceived themselves as “overweight” compared to healthy weight peers who self-perceived their weight as ”just right” [21.0% (SE= 4.5) vs. 11.4% (SE = 1.4)]. The adjusted prevalence ratio (PR) of excessive school absenteeism for healthy weight adolescents who incorrectly perceived themselves as “overweight” was 1.91 (1.10 – 3.32) compared with healthy weight peers who correctly perceived their weight as being “just right”(reference).
Conclusions: According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) conducted from 2003-2008, body weight misperception rather than actual body weight significantly influences school absenteeism among healthy weight adolescents. Correcting the misperception of body weight may help to reduce school absences among adolescents.