Steinsbekk Silje, Klöckner Christian A, Fildes Alison, Kristoffersen Pernille, Rognsås Stine L, Wichstrøm Lars
Department of Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
Institute of Psychological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom.
Front Psychol. 2017 Nov 21;8:2038. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.02038. eCollection 2017.
Individuals who are overweight are more likely to underestimate their body size than those who are normal weight, and overweight underestimators are less likely to engage in weight loss efforts. Underestimation of body size might represent a barrier to prevention and treatment of overweight; thus insight in how underestimation of body size develops and tracks through the childhood years is needed. The aim of the present study was therefore to examine stability in children's underestimation of body size, exploring predictors of underestimation over time. The prospective path from underestimation to BMI was also tested. In a Norwegian cohort of 6 year olds, followed up at ages 8 and 10 (analysis sample: = 793) body size estimation was captured by the Children's Body Image Scale, height and weight were measured and BMI calculated. Overall, children were more likely to underestimate than overestimate their body size. Individual stability in underestimation was modest, but significant. Higher BMI predicted future underestimation, even when previous underestimation was adjusted for, but there was no evidence for the opposite direction of influence. Boys were more likely than girls to underestimate their body size at ages 8 and 10 (age 8: 38.0% vs. 24.1%; Age 10: 57.9% vs. 30.8%) and showed a steeper increase in underestimation with age compared to girls. In conclusion, the majority of 6, 8, and 10-year olds correctly estimate their body size (prevalence ranging from 40 to 70% depending on age and gender), although a substantial portion perceived themselves to be thinner than they actually were. Higher BMI forecasted future underestimation, but underestimation did not increase the risk for excessive weight gain in middle childhood.
超重个体比体重正常的个体更有可能低估自己的体型，而低估体型的超重者进行减肥努力的可能性较小。低估体型可能是超重预防和治疗的一个障碍；因此，需要深入了解儿童时期体型低估是如何形成和发展的。因此，本研究的目的是检验儿童体型低估的稳定性，探索随着时间推移低估体型的预测因素。还测试了从低估体型到体重指数（BMI）的前瞻性路径。在一个挪威6岁儿童队列中，对8岁和10岁的儿童进行随访（分析样本：=793），通过儿童身体意象量表获取体型估计，测量身高和体重并计算BMI。总体而言，儿童低估自己体型的可能性大于高估。低估体型的个体稳定性适中，但具有显著性。较高的BMI预测未来会出现低估体型的情况，即使对之前的低估进行了调整，但没有证据表明存在相反方向的影响。在8岁和10岁时，男孩比女孩更有可能低估自己的体型（8岁时：38.0%对24.1%；10岁时：57.9%对30.8%），并且与女孩相比，随着年龄增长，男孩低估体型的增幅更大。总之，大多数6岁、8岁和10岁的儿童能够正确估计自己的体型（患病率根据年龄和性别在40%至70%之间），尽管有相当一部分儿童认为自己比实际更瘦。较高的BMI预测未来会出现低估体型的情况，但低估体型并不会增加童年中期体重过度增加的风险。
