Key result
Perceiving one's weight as overweight was cross-sectionally associated with higher total cholesterol (mean difference 12.3 mg/dL) after BMI adjustment, with no significant longitudinal associations.
Why the study?
Few studies have examined whether weight perception is independently associated with objective cardiometabolic markers despite initiatives notifying adolescents of BMI status.
Does perceiving one's weight as overweight worsen cardiometabolic markers in adolescents followed into emerging adulthood?
Cohort (n=454)
Yes
Does perceiving one's weight as overweight worsen cardiometabolic markers in adolescents followed into emerging adulthood?
Perceiving one's weight as overweight is cross-sectionally associated with worse lipid profiles in adolescents, independent of actual BMI, though longitudinal associations were not significant.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Weight perception links cross-sectionally to worse lipids independent of BMI; hypothesis-generating for longitudinal cardiometabolic effects.
Introduction: Several US public health and clinical initiatives notify adolescents of body mass index (BMI) or weight status; however, few studies have examined whether weight perception is independently associated with objective cardiometabolic markers. We assessed cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between weight perception and cardiometabolic health among adolescents followed into emerging adulthood. Results: In cross-sectional models adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics and BMI, participants who perceived their weight as overweight had higher adjusted mean total cholesterol (mean difference, 12.3 mg/dL; P = .045) and LDL cholesterol (mean difference, 8.3 mg/dL; P = .04). In longitudinal models, perceiving one's weight as overweight was not associated with cardiometabolic outcomes after adjustment for BMI. Conclusion: Perceiving one's weight as overweight is associated with worse cardiometabolic health. Health professionals should consider the possible implications of policies aimed at informing adolescents of their BMI status before implementation. Future studies are warranted to explore the causal pathway of this association.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Djekovic et al. (2026) conducted a cohort in Healthy adolescents and emerging adults (n=454). Perceiving weight as overweight vs. Did not perceive weight as overweight was evaluated on Total cholesterol (cross-sectional, adjusted for BMI) (MD 12.3, p=0.045). Perceiving one's weight as overweight was cross-sectionally associated with higher total cholesterol (mean difference 12.3 mg/dL) after BMI adjustment, with no significant longitudinal associations.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: