Introduction:

In China, the prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing dramatically.

Objective:

To assess the body self-perception of Chinese adults and to determine their relationship with anthropometric indicators.

Methods:

An observational cross-sectional study was conducted in Panzhihua, China. The sample was made up of n = 151 subjects, aged between 18 and 80 years who met the established inclusion criteria. A questionnaire was conducted through a face-to-face interview and measurements of weight, height, waist and hip circumference, determinations of the body mass index, waist circumference index and that of the hip and the percentage of body fat.

Results:

According to the classification of the body fat percentage, it was determined 10.6 % normal weight, 28.5 % overweight and 60.9 % obesity. According to the body mass index, it was found 5.3 % in the thin level, 47.0 % normal weight, 32.5 % overweight and 15.2 % obese. According to the waist and hip circumference index, 34.4 % was normal and 65.6 % had abdominal obesity. Regarding body self-perception, 54.7% of the subjects self-perceived as normal weight, 24.3 % considered themselves to be overweight and 12.2 % self-perceived as obese. The correlations between body self-perception, body mass index and body fat percentage expressed a significant difference (p<0.05), body self-perception and the waist and hip circumference index showed no difference (p>0.05). According to the Pearson correlation, the percentage of body fat was more reliable as an indicator.

Conclusion:

The body self-perception of the subjects in this research was not adequate. Body fat percentage was the most reliable anthropometric indicator in the study.

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