Overweight adolescents’ self-perceived weight and weight control behaviour: HBSC study in Finland 1994–2010

Abstract

Introduction. Overweight and perception of being overweight, may lead adolescent to lose weight. The aim of the present study was to investigate overweight adolescents’ self-perceived weight, body dissatisfaction, and weight control behaviour during 1994–2010 in Finland. Methods. The country-representative, cross-sectional data of 15-year olds were obtained from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study, conducted in 1994 ( 𝑁 = 1 1 9 4 ; males: 48%), 1998 ( 𝑁 = 1 5 4 5 ; 49%), 2002 ( 𝑁 = 1 7 4 5 ; 50%), 2006 ( 𝑁 = 1 6 7 0 ; 47%), and 2010 ( 𝑁 = 2 0 8 2 ; 48%). Results. The majority of overweight boys (62–69%) and girls (89–100%) assessed themselves as too fat, and their body image was lower than in nonoverweight adolescents. The highest prevalence of current weight controlling was found in 2006 in males (18%) and in 2010 in females (39%). Conclusion. The phenomena were current and gender differences notable, but there was no statistically significant difference in overweight adolescents’ self-perceived weight, body dissatisfaction, or weight control behaviour between survey years.