Many adults are unaware of their exact height and weight, according to a recent Polish study. This could affect their health. Explanations.
- Some adults have an erroneous perception of their BMI and their height.
- People who do not have an accurate idea of their weight and height may develop eating disorders.
Less than two-thirds of adults would be able to correctly estimate their weight and less than half would know their height. This was revealed a study published in the journal Scientific Reports January 27. To reach this conclusion, researchers from the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland, recruited 744 people with an average age of 36, of whom 21 had a low body mass index (BMI), 326 had a weight ” normal”, 221 were overweight and 176 were obese.
To assess how adults estimated their height and weight, participants had to answer a questionnaire, more precisely specific questions, such as “Do you think you are: underweight / normal weight / overweight / obese?”. Patients’ weight and height were measured to calculate their body mass index.
An underestimation of BMI and height
According to the results, 63.5% of the participants correctly estimated their BMI and 49.5% were correct about their height. The study authors found that participants frequently underestimated their BMI and height. “People with a BMI in the overweight range reported being underweight (1.4%), obese (2.8%) or considering themselves to be normal weight (30.8%). , participants with a BMI in the obese range considered themselves to be normal weight (2.6%) or self-reported being overweight (41.6%)”, can we read in the works.
According to the scientists, underestimation of weight status was more common in men than in women. They noted that adults with the correct BMI were less often dissatisfied with their height and weight than overweight or obese people. “The degree of body dissatisfaction was greater in women than in men”the research said.
An erroneous perception of his weight and height would have an impact on health
In their study, the researchers pointed out that not having an accurate idea of one’s weight and height can have health implications. “The effect of disorders of self-perception of height and body dissatisfaction can lead to the development of eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa or binge eating – a major risk factor for the development of ‘obesity”the scientists reported.
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