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The Relationship between Weight Loss Advice from Friends on Self‐Perception of Weight and Eating Habits
Author(s) -
Thibodeau Tristan,
Woerden Irene,
OhriVachaspati Punam,
Huberty Jennifer,
Bruening Meg
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.30.1_supplement.408.2
Subject(s) - overweight , weight loss , feeling , demography , psychology , logistic regression , population , perception , gerontology , obesity , medicine , social psychology , endocrinology , neuroscience , sociology
BACKGROUND Conversations about weight loss may impart feelings of dissatisfaction with one's weight, resulting in changes to weight perception. Self‐perception of weight has emerged as a significant predictor of BMI, weight status, and weight loss intentions. This relationship has yet to be observed in the college freshman population. OBJECTIVE To evaluate how weight loss advice from friends influences self‐perception of weight, and how this relationship is associated eating habits, specifically fruit and vegetable and fast food intake, in college freshmen. METHODS Cross‐sectional, secondary data analysis of dorm‐dwelling college freshmen (n= 1075; 64% female; 51% non‐white) participating in the longitudinal, prospective study SPARC ( S ocial impact of P hysical A ctivity and nut R ition in C ollege). Mixed multivariate logistic regressions were used to examine the relationship friends’ advice about losing weight with weight self‐perception and fruit/vegetable and fast food consumption, adjusted for sociodemographics and the clustering by dorm. RESULTS Freshmen females were more likely than males to report feeling overweight (OW) (45% vs. 28%, respectively; p<0.01). A significant relationship was observed between friend's advice about losing weight and female and male perceptions of being overweight (OR=2.13, 95%CI: 1.5–2.9, p<0.01). Weight comments were significantly related to males’ fruit and vegetable consumption (OR=2.0, 95% CI: 1.2–3.4, p=0.009), but not females’ (OR=0.95, 95% CI: 0.6–1.5, p=0.834). No significant relationships were observed for weight loss advice or perceptions of weight with fast food intake for either males or females. CONCLUSIONS Perception of overweight was related to friend's weight loss advice, but not to eating behaviors in the majority of the sample. Gender specific differences were observed in the strength of this relationship, indicating that longitudinal research is needed to better understand the relationship between self‐perception, weight loss advice from friends, and eating behaviors. Support or Funding Information The S ocial impact of P hysical A ctivity and nut R ition in C ollege study (project number: 1DP5OD017910‐01; PI: Bruening) was funded by the NIH Office of the Director and the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research. Content expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the authors, and may not reflect official views held by the NIH.