Background: Despite good public awareness of the health consequences of overweight and obesity, WA adults’ perceptions of what constitutes a healthy weight and intentions to reach or maintain a healthy weight are progressing more slowly.
Aim: To examine population-level changes in WA adults’ perceptions of their own body weight and their intentions to change their weight.
Methods: This study reports on self-report data from the WA Health and Wellbeing Surveillance System relating to adults (16+ years); a rolling, cross-sectional population-level survey managed by the WA Department of Health. Body mass index categories (not overweight or obese, overweight, or obese) were derived from self-reported height and weight and contrasted with perceived weight status (not overweight, overweight or very overweight).
Results: Only about half of WA adults had a perceived weight status that matched their body mass index category. For WA adults whose perceived weight status did not match their body mass index category, almost all underestimated the category they belonged to. The proportion of adults able to correctly classify their body weight has declined significantly in recent years. This is likely a consequence of continued increases in the population prevalence of overweight and obesity, combined with little or no change in perceived weight status. Even with increases in the population prevalence of overweight and obesity, intentions to lose weight have remained relatively unchanged.
Conclusions: Improved awareness of what constitutes being overweight or obese may help to raise intentions to lose weight and achieve population health goals to curb overweight and obesity.