Weight Perception, Academic Performance, and Psychological Factors in Chinese Adolescents

Document Type

Article

Department

Community and Global Health (CGU)

Publication Date

2006

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

Abstract

Objective: To investigate weight perception and related psychological factors in Chinese adolescents. Methods: A questionnaire on weight perception, academic performance, stress, hostility, and depression was completed by 6863 middle and high school students. Weight and height were measured. Results: Overweight perception was related to school-related stress and depression in both girls and boys (P<0.01) and to hostility in boys (P<0.01). Perceived over-weight was related to lower GPA in girls only (P<0.05). Conclusions: Distorted weight perception has a detrimental psychological impact on Chinese adolescents. These findings may contribute to the obesity research and to the development of future effective intervention programs in China.

Rights Information

© 2006 American Journal of Health Behavior

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