Prevalence of weight-loss behaviors and the associations between weight-loss behaviors and weight-related perceptions among students in primary and middle schools in China

Objective To evaluate the prevalence of different nutritional status and weight-loss behaviors of children and adolescents in 7 provinces and cities in China,and to provide references for exploring the association between weight-loss behaviors and weight-related perceptions among Chinese children and adolescents.Methods A total of 53 890 primary and middle school students from seven regions in China participated in physical examination and questionnaire survey,and the information about their weight-loss behaviors and weight-related perceptions was collected.The distribution of nutritional status and weight-loss behaviors in children and adolescents were described.And multiple logistic regression analysis was applied to the association between weight-loss behaviors and weight-related perceptions.Results The prevalence of underweight and overweight were 6.9% and 24.3% respectively.The prevalence of taking weight-loss behaviors among primary middle students was 58.5%,among middle school students was 65.9%,among high school students was 60.4%.In the underweight group,no significant effect between weight dissatisfaction and weight-loss behaviors was found(P=0.29);considering themselves as overweight could increase the occurrence of weight-loss behaviors(OR=5.28,95%CI=2.76-10.12,P<0.01).In the group of normal weight,weight dissatisfaction will promote weight-loss behaviors(OR=1.09,95%CI=1.03-1.16,P<0.01,OR=1.57,95%CI=1.44-1.71,P<0.01).In overweight group,weight dissatisfaction and conception of overweight will promote weight-loss behaviors(P<0.01).Conclusion The prevalence of overweight and weight-loss behaviors are high among Chinese children and adolescents.Weight dissatisfaction will promote the students of normal weight and overweight students to take weight-loss behaviors.The conception of overweight is the risk factor of the weight-loss behaviors in all groups.