Body weight perception and body weight control behaviors in adolescents.

Objective: To investigate the association between the perception of body weight (as above or below the desired) and behaviors for body weight control in adolescents.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that included 1051 adolescents (aged 15-19 years) who were high school students attending public schools. The authors collected information on the perception of body weight (dependent variable), weight control behaviors (initiative to change the weight, physical exercise, eating less or cutting calories, fasting for 24h, taking medications, vomiting, or taking laxatives), and measured body weight and height to calculate the body mass index and then classify the weight status.