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Table 1 Differences in weight-related concerns and weight-control behaviors, by weight status; Delhi, India; 2006 (n = 1818).

From: Weight-related concerns and weight-control behaviors among overweight adolescents in Delhi, India: A cross-sectional study

 

Overweight or obese1(n = 300)

Underweight or normal weight1(n = 1518)

 
 

Percent

(95% CI)

Percent

(95% CI)

p-value2

WEIGHT-RELATED CONCERNS

     

   Importance of weight control3

     

Important

94.2

(90.2 - 96.6)

84.8

(79.8 - 88.7)

<0.001

Not important

5.8

(3.4 - 9.8)

15.2

(11.3 - 20.2)

<0.001

   Perceived weight status4

     

Overweight

56.2

(47.8 - 64.4)

10.8

(8.4 - 13.7)

<0.001

About the right weight

25.0

(20.4 - 30.3)

49.3

(46.8 - 51.9)

<0.001

Underweight

16.4

(11.9 - 22.1)

39.4

(34.7 - 44.2)

<0.001

   Perceived body satisfaction5

     

Low

55.1

(49.3 - 60.7)

26.7

(24.5 - 29.0)

<0.001

Moderate

22.8

(17.9 - 28.5)

36.8

(33.6 - 40.1)

<0.001

High

23.1

(17.6 - 29.7)

36.2

(31.7 - 40.9)

<0.001

   WEIGHT-CONTROL BEHAVIORS

     

Tried to lose weight in the last year 6

71.9

(66.1 - 77.1)

34.5

(31.8 - 37.3)

<0.001

   Healthy behaviors (at least one)7

91.5

(87.5 - 94.4)

82.9

(79.9 - 85.5)

<0.001

Exercised more

76.7

(71.0 - 81.7)

55.2

(52.1 - 58.3)

<0.001

Ate less sweets

69.2

(62.7 - 75.1)

49.1

(45.1 - 53.2)

<0.001

Ate less high fat foods

63.2

(57.3 - 68.7)

42.1

(39.3 - 44.9)

<0.001

Ate more fruits and vegetables

65.2

(57.9 - 72.0)

64.3

(59.4 - 68.9)

0.772

   Unhealthy behaviors (at least one)7

77.7

(69.8 - 84.0)

62.3

(54.5 - 69.6)

<0.001

Fasted

38.0

(28.2 - 48.9)

34.0

(26.1 - 42.8)

0.243

Skipped meals

39.0

(29.0 - 50.0)

27.8

(20.8 - 36.0)

0.001

Ate very little food

55.5

(47.5 - 63.2)

28.9

(24.3 - 33.9)

<0.001

Used food substitute

11.6

(7.5 - 17.5)

13.4

(9.7 - 18.1)

0.392

Took diet pills

15.1

(10.0 - 22.1)

10.7

(7.6 - 14.7)

0.035

Made myself vomit

8.3

(4.8 - 14.3)

6.9

(4.4 - 10.7)

0.357

  1. 1 Weight status determined using age- and gender-specific cut-points from WHO [10].
  2. 2 Test for differences performed using mixed-effects regression models, with school specified as a random effect [12]. Models were unadjusted.
  3. 3 Importance of weight control was measured with one item, "How important is controlling your weight (a) very important, (b) important, (c) not important, (d) not at all important?" The responses were collapsed into two categories: (1) important ("very important," "important") and (2) not important ("not important," "not at all important") [11].
  4. 4 Perceived weight status was measured by a single question, "At this time, do you feel that you are (a) very underweight, (b) somewhat underweight, (c) about the right weight, (d) somewhat overweight, or (e) very overweight?" The responses were collapsed to create three categories: (1) underweight ("very underweight" and "somewhat underweight"), (2) the right weight ("about the right weight"), and (3) overweight ("somewhat overweight" and "very overweight") [11].
  5. 5 Perceived body satisfaction was measured using a modified version of the Body Satisfaction Scale, which included five items assessing one's satisfaction with different parts of their body (i.e., height, weight, body shape, waist, hips) using a Likert scale that ranged from "not at all satisfied" to "very satisfied." Responses to these questions were summed and categorized as low, moderate, and high based on distributions within this study population, with one third of the population in each category [11].
  6. 6 Students who responded "yes" to "In the past year, have you done anything to try to lose weight or avoid gaining weight ... (a) yes, (b) no?" [11].
  7. 7 Students who responded "yes" to "During the past one year, have you done any of the following things in order to lose weight or avoid gaining weight ... [behaviors] ... (a) yes, (b) no?" [11].
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International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity

ISSN: 1479-5868

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