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Table 1 Characteristics of Overweight and Obese U.S. adults aged ≥ 20, NHANES 2003-2006

From: Does perception equal reality? Weight misperception in relation to weight-related attitudes and behaviors among overweight and obese US adults

 

Weight Loss Attitudes and Behaviors Sample % (n)

Dietary Behaviors Sample % (n)

Physical Activity Behaviors Sample % (n)

Total

n = 4,784

n = 4,894

n = 5,401

Weight Misperception (%)

23.7 (1389)

22.9 (1296)

22.5 (1503)

Weight Status

   

   Overweight

51.5 (2487)

50.2 (2442)

50.1 (2729)

   Obese

48.5 (2297)

49.8 (2452)

49.9 (2672)

BMI (kg/m2, mean, SE)

31.3 (0.13)

31.4 (0.16)

31.4 (0.12)

Age (years, mean, SE)

48.2 (0.52)

48.5 (0.51)

47.7 (0.50)

Gender

   

   Men

53.4 (2537)

52.2 (2543)

53.1 (2866)

   Women

46.6 (2247)

47.8 (2351)

46.9 (2535)

Race/Ethnicity

   

   Non-Hispanic White

73.9 (2426)

75.1 (2562)

74.1 (2737)

   Non-Hispanic Black

13.4 (1161)

13.3 (1155)

13.4 (1331)

   Hispanic

12.8 (1197)

11.7 (1177)

12.5 (1333)

Education

   

   High School or Less

18.1 (1402)

16.4 (1114)

17.2 (1508)

   High School Graduate

27.8 (1233)

19.4 (1141)

27.7 (1387)

   Some College

32.3 (1343)

35.4 (1595)

32.6 (1564)

   College Graduate

21.7 (806)

28.8 (1044)

22.5 (942)

Income

   

   $<20,000

16.9 (1170)

16.6 (1340)

15.8 (1250)

   $20,000-35,000

19.0 (1099)

28.0 (1267)

18.8 (1230)

   $35,000-75,000

36.7 (1553)

32.9 (1425)

36.8 (1780)

   $>75,000

27.5 (962)

22.6 (862)

28.7 (1141)

Marital Status

   

   Married

67.4 (2998)

66.2 (3119)

67.2 (3389)

   Widowed/Divorced

19.4 (1125)

19.8 (1127)

18.9 (1223)

   Never Married

13.3 (661)

14.0 (648)

13.9 (789)

Self-reported Health Status

   

   Fair or Poor

18.7 (1205)

18.3 (1194)

17.8 (1290)

   Good

35.2 (1709)

34.1 (1737)

34.9 (1918)

   Excellent or Very Good

46.0 (1870)

47.6 (1963)

47.3 (2193)

Physician Diagnosis for Overweight (%)

40.0 (1869)

43.8 (2130)

43.5 (2282)

  1. Note. Weighted proportions are shown. These weighted data adjust for unequal probabilities of selection. Percentages may not total 100 due to rounding. Totals may not sum to final sample size due to missing data.