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Perception, Intention, and Action in Adolescent Obesity

Health Services Research, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Christiana Care Health System, Wilmington, Delaware (HBF)
Department of Family and Community Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (HBF, JD, JMG)
Division of Population Science, Department of Medical Oncology, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (RM)
Delaware Valley Outcomes Research, Newark, Delaware (JMG)

Correspondence: Corresponding author: Heather Bittner Fagan, MD, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Christiana Care Health System,1400 North Washington Street, Wilmington Annex, 3rd Floor, Wilmington, Delaware 19801 (E-mail: hbittner-fagan{at}christianacare.org)

Background: Insight into adolescents’ weight-loss behavior is needed.

Methods: Survey data were obtained from overweight and obese adolescents in the Youth Risk Behavioral Survey (YRBS) in Delaware. Cross tabulations were used to determine the frequency of accurate perception, recent action, and current intention regarding weight loss. Multivariable analysis identified factors associated with recent action to lose weight.

Results: From 2728 records, 482 overweight adolescents and 398 obese adolescents were identified. Most obese (83%) and overweight (79%) adolescents reported recent action to lose weight. Most obese (75%) and overweight (65%) adolescents intended to lose weight. Obese and overweight adolescents who reported a current intention to lose weight were more likely to have taken recent action to lose weight (odds ratio [OR], 11.6 and 6.6, respectively).

Conclusions: The percentage of obese and overweight adolescents who have an accurate perception of weight, intend to lose weight, and have taken recent action to lose weight suggests that this group is highly engaged in weight-related behavior change. Compared with their obese peers, overweight adolescents seem less engaged in weight change behavior. There is a strong association in both groups between intention and recent action, and this association indicates that obese and overweight adolescents are highly motivated to change their weight.

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