2015 APHA Annual Meeting & Expo

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Online Program

333328
Perceptions of body weight as modifiable and associations with diet and physical activity related behaviors


Monday, November 2, 2015

Kisha Coa, PhD, Science of Research and Technology Branch, Behavioral Research Program, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD
Richard Moser, PhD, Science of Research and Technology Branch, Behavioral Research Program, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD
April Oh, PhD, MPH, Health Communication and Informatics Research Branch, Behavioral Research Program, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD
Katrina Serrano, PhD, Science of Research and Technology Branch, Behavioral Research Program, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD
Healthy eating and regular physical activity (PA) are critical to maintaining a healthy weight; however, many U.S. adults are not meeting recommended guidelines.  Given that weight loss is often a motivator for these behaviors, individuals’ perceptions of being able to change their weight might influence uptake of these behaviors.

This study examined the prevalence of the perception that body weight is not modifiable and its association with PA and fruit and vegetable consumption and intention to change behavior. NCI’s nationally representative 2014 Health Information National Trends survey, provided data for this study (n= 3,677 adults).  Descriptive statistics were calculated, and multivariate logistic regression was used to examine associations with health behaviors.

One in five U.S. adults (20.2%) agreed that “Body weight is something basic about a person that they can’t change very much.”  More obese individuals agreed than individuals of normal weight (22.0% vs. 15.3%). Individuals who endorsed this belief were more likely to be less educated (p<0.001) and report worse general health (p=.013).  They were also less likely to meet PA guidelines (>=150 minutes per week) (38.1% vs. 47.3%, p<0.01) and less likely to report attempts to increase the amount of PA they get in a typical week (OR: 1.92, p<0.001). However, there were no significant associations with fruit and vegetable intake or intention.

These findings are consistent with a growing belief that obesity is beyond one’s control.  Public health programs seeking to reduce risk of obesity-related chronic diseases need to understand and address factors contributing to this perception.

Learning Areas:

Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Explain the importance of regular physical activity and healthy diet in maintaining a healthy weight and reducing risk for obesity-related chronic diseases Describe predictors of the perception that body weight is not modifiable in a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults Identify associations between the perception that body weight is not modifiable and diet and physical activity related outcomes

Keyword(s): Obesity, Physical Activity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have my PhD in social and behavioral sciences from the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. I have extensive training in analyzing nationally representative survey data, and one of my research foci has been exploring individuals' motivation and perceived capacity to engage in diet and physical activity related behavior change.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3314.0: Promoting Physical Activity in the Community