Gender differences in factors associated with body weight misperception.

OBJECTIVE

Gender analysis in health research is important to strengthen our health system. The current study aimed to explore factors related to body weight misperception in a national sample of the general Korean population.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

South Korea, general population.

PARTICIPANTS

12,900 adults enrolled from the Seventh Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2016-2018).

RESULTS

Disadvantageous socio-economic status was considered a predictor of participants' misperceptions of themselves as being of a healthy weight despite being overweight and as underweight despite being of a healthy weight, mainly in men. Favourable socio-economic status was considered a predictor of participants' misperceptions of themselves as being of a healthy weight despite being underweight and as overweight despite being of a healthy weight, mainly in women. Living in an urban area was an independent predictor of men's misperception of themselves as being of a healthy weight despite being overweight and women's misperception of themselves as being underweight despite being of a healthy weight. Physical inactivity was a predictor of most misperceptions in women. Psychological variables, such as stress and depression, were not significant predictors of misperception.

CONCLUSIONS

The current study highlighted the gender differences in factors related to body weight misperception. These differences suggested that more sophisticated policies should be formulated to identify solutions to health problems related to body weight.