Weight Misperception, Weight Dissatisfaction, and Weight Change Among a Swiss Population-Based Adult Sample

Lucy Manca and Pedro Marques-Vidal ()
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Lucy Manca: Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
Pedro Marques-Vidal: Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 8, 1-12

Abstract: Background/Objectives: We investigated the effect of weight misperception or dissatisfaction among individuals of normal BMI on their long-term weight changes. Methods: Data from the three follow-ups of the CoLaus|PsyCoLaus study (2009–2012, 2014–2017, and 2018–2021) conducted in Lausanne, Switzerland. Participants with a BMI < 25 kg/m 2 were eligible. Weight misperception/dissatisfaction was assessed by questionnaires. Weight change over a 5- or 10-year period was categorized as stable (±5 kg), loss (<−5 kg), or gain (>+5 kg). Results: Overall, 1826 (66.1% women, 55.9 ± 9.9 years) and 1089 (62.7% women, 61.2 ± 9.6 years) participants of surveys 2009–2012 and 2014–2017, respectively, were retained for analysis. Prevalence of weight misperception was 15.9% (95% CI: 14.2–17.6) and 11.5% (95% CI: 9.6–13.5) in 2009–2012 and 2014–2017, respectively. The corresponding values for weight dissatisfaction were 28.9% (95% CI: 26.8–31.0) and 20.9% (95% CI: 18.6–23.5). After multivariable analysis, participants with weight misperception/dissatisfaction had a higher likelihood ( p < 0.05) of presenting with weight loss: for weight misperception, odds ratio and 95% CI: 2.29 (1.30–4.02) and 2.66 (1.24–5.69) for 2009–2012 and 2014–2017, respectively; the corresponding values for weight dissatisfaction were 2.02 (1.22–3.35) and 2.40 (1.23–4.65). No associations between weight misperception/dissatisfaction with weight gain were found. Conclusions: Our study found that weight misperception/dissatisfaction in normal-weight, middle-aged individuals was associated with weight loss over time.

Keywords: weight dissatisfaction; weight misperception; weight gain; prospective study (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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