Accuracy, determinants, and consequences of body weight self-perception in type 2 diabetes: the Fremantle Diabetes Study☆
Received 28 July 2009; received in revised form 27 October 2009; accepted 18 November 2009. published online 04 January 2010. Corrected Proof
Abstract
Objective
To assess the accuracy, determinants, and consequences of body weight self-perception in type 2 diabetes.
Methods
We studied 1272 community-based patients and a 518-patient overweight/obese subset who returned for ≥4 annual reviews. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify baseline predictors of correct weight self-perception and to determine whether correct weight self-perception predicted future weight loss. Overweight and obesity were defined as body mass indices of 25.0–29.9 and ≥30.0 kg/m2, respectively.
Results
Of the patients who were overweight (40.0%) or obese (41.8%) at baseline, 52.8% and 83.7%, respectively, correctly self-identified their weight category. Overweight/obese participants who self-identified correctly were more likely to have been informed they were overweight (P<.001), predominantly by their general practitioner (80.1%). Overweight participants had less self-awareness if they were not abdominally obese, did not speak English fluently, were male, or had a low income. Obese participants were more likely to consider themselves overweight if they had better diabetes knowledge and higher educational attainment. Correct weight self-perception did not influence subsequent weight loss.
Conclusions
Health care professionals can facilitate body weight self-awareness in type 2 diabetes. Education programmes should recognise the impact of gender and socio-demographic variables on accurate weight self-perception.
Fremantle Hospital, School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia
Corresponding author. Fremantle Hospital, School of Medicine and Pharmacology, PO Box 480, Fremantle, Western Australia 6959, Australia. Tel.: +61 8 9431 3641; fax: +61 8 9431 2977.
☆ The Fremantle Diabetes Study was funded by the Raine Foundation, University of Western Australia.
ABSTRACT