605 - Social Determinants and Weight Perception Among Youth with Obesity: Analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017-2020 Cohort Data
Medical Student Y3 Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University Hamden, Connecticut, United States
Background: Obesity is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) that often begins in childhood and may persist under poor socioeconomic circumstances. A complex interaction of factors, including poverty status and food security, may negatively influence a child's likelihood of modifying their health behaviors. Objective: Our primary objective of this study was to analyze what sociodemographic factors significantly influence a child's weight perception and desire to make healthy lifestyle choices. Design/Methods: Using the 2017-2020 NHANES data, we analyzed 8-15-year-olds with a BMI >=95th %ile. In this cross-sectional study, we assessed the relationship between sociodemographic factors, poverty status, food security, and survey responses to self-perception of weight status, a desire to modify one's lifestyle, and parental perception of a child's weight. Factors associated with incorrectly self-perceiving oneʼs weight status were identified via multivariable logistic regression (backward selection) (p < 0.05). Results: Of 529 children with obesity, 55% correctly perceived themselves as having obesity. Correct self-perception was associated with older age, race-ethnicity, BMI, and parental perception but not with household poverty or food security status (Table 1). There were greater odds of incorrect self-perception of weight among Black youth and if a parent incorrectly perceived a childʼs weight (OR=2.1, 95% CI 1.3 to 3.5) (Table 2).
Conclusion(s): We found that cultural norms and parental perception of a child’s weight status strongly influence a child’s self-perception of their weight and desire to make healthy lifestyle changes. Future efforts to reduce the CVD risk factor burden should focus on addressing cultural norms and parental education. Table One .1.jpeg
