Secular trends in the prevalence of weight misperception among Korean adults, 2001-2013

We examined trends in the prevalence of weight misperception among Korean adults from 2001 to 2013. Data were derived from four Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys conducted in 2001, 2005, 2009, and 2013. Weight perception was classified as “correct perception” if the weight status based on body mass index (BMI) and the respondent's body shape perception (BSP) were consistent and “weight misperception” if the weight status based on BMI and the respondent's BSP were inconsistent. Two of five Korean adults incorrectly recognised their weight status. The weight misperception rate in women increased over time (p for trend = 0.003), but there was no significant difference in the male weight misperception rate over time (p for trend = 0.179). The weight misperception rate in respondents > 60 years old decreased in both men and women (p for trend < 0.05), but women showed an increasing weight misperception rate in all other age groups (p for trend < 0.001). There was no change in the weight misperception rate in men with increasing age (p > 0.05). In respondents with a normal weight, the weight misperception rate increased over time in both men and women (males, p for trend = 0.003; women, p for trend < 0.001), but overweight men (p for trend < 0.001) and obese men and women showed a decreasing rate of weight misperception (men, p for trend = 0.006: women, p for trend < 0.001). The results of this study suggest that health policy efforts are necessary to change the perception of healthy weight status for women, among whom the prevalence of weight misperception is increasing.