• Anne-Sofie Sand, Anne-Sofie Furberg, Olaug S Lian, Christopher S Nielsen, Gunn Pettersen, Anne Winther, and Nina Emaus.
• 1 Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital of North Norway, Norway.
• Scand J Public Health. 2017 May 1; 45 (3): 322-330.

AimsThe aim of this study was to explore the relationships between measured body size (body mass index (BMI)), perceived body size, weight change wishes and self-perceived health in young adults.MethodsThe participants were recruited from a school-based population study in Norway, the Tromsø Study: Fit Futures 2, carried out in 2012-2013. A total of 629 young women and men (aged 18-23 years) reported on the main variables. The data were collected through weight and height measurements and questionnaires. The analyses were performed with descriptive statistics, the χ2 test and Student's t-test.ResultsA total of 20% of the women and 28% of the men were overweight or obese. There were considerable discrepancies between the measured BMI and perceived body size in both sexes. A substantial number of participants wanted to change their weight. Among the 174 women who reported that they were trying to lose weight, as many as 57 (32.8%) had a low normal weight (BMI 18.5-21.9 kg/m2). Correspondingly, among the 66 men who reported that they wanted to gain weight, as many as 19 (28.8%) had a high normal weight (BMI 22-24.9 kg/m2). We found no relation between body size perceptions, weight change wishes and self-perceived health.ConclusionsDiscrepancies between measured and perceived body size and weight change wishes are common findings in young adults. The lack of relation with self-perceived health found in our study is surprising and not easy to interpret. To gain more knowledge about these matters, further research, including both qualitative and quantitative studies, is needed.

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