A taxonomy of groups at risk based on reported and desired body mass index and its relationships with health

Figures & data

Table 1. Contingency percentages between reported and desired BMI: A taxonomy

	Reported BMI
Desired BMI	Underweight		Normal Weight		Overweight		Prevalence
Underweight	UC	5.88	UD	6.72	UD	0.50	441 (13.1%)
Normal Weight	FD	5.08	FC	67.40	FD	8.83	2734 (81.3%)
Overweight	UD	0.29	UD	1.96	UC	3.30	187 (5.6%)
Prevalence	379 (11.3%)		2558 (76.1%)		425 (12.6%)		N = 3362

Numbers express percentages with respect to total.

IMC →Underweight: <18.5; Normal Weight: 18.5 to 24.99; Overweight: >25

FC: Favorable Concordance→ Contingency between reported and desired BMI in normal weight (n = 2266; 67.40%).

FD: Favorable Discrepancy→ Contingency between reported and desired BMI with favorable desire towards normal weight (n = 468; 13.92%).

UC: Unfavorable Concordance → Contingency between reported and desired BMI with unfavorable desire of non-normal weight (n = 309; 9.19%).

UD: Unfavorable Discrepancy → Contingency between reported and desired BMI with unfavorable desire of non-normal weight (n = 319; 9.49%).

Table 2. Contrast of means and proportions in perception of health, intake assessment and weight satisfaction as a function of BMI convergence taxonomy (n = 3362)

	FC (a) (n = 2266)				FD (b) (n = 468)				UC (c) (n = 309)				UD (d) (n = 319)				Contrast Test
SF-12	M		SD		M		SD		M		SD		M		SD		F		p		Post-hoc
Physical Health	54.06		5.71		52.72		6.39		53.06		6.53		53.78		6.35		8.22		.001		ab
Mental Health	43.77		9.10		43.55		9.34		43.68		9.67		41.45		9.22		5.40		.001		ad, bd, cd
Healthy Intake	3.00		0.93		2.83		0.97		3.04		0.96		2.82		0.96		7.09		.001		ab, ad, bc, cd
Satisfaction with weight	FC (n = 2262)					FD (n = 468)				UC (n = 309)				UD (n = 289)						Contrast Test
	n	%		SR		n	%	SR		n		%	SR	n		%		SR		χ^2		p
Wants to lose weight	1044	46.2		−1.5		287	61.4	4.2		116		37.4	−2.8	158		54.7		1.6		91.75		.001
Satisfied	1041	46.0		2.3		120	25.7	−5.8		164		53.2	2.8	103		35.6		−1.9
Wants to gain weight	177	7.8		−1.7		61	12.9	3.0		29		19.4	0.3	28		9.7		0.5

M: Means, SD: Standard Deviations. Post-hoc contrast: letters identify statistically different groups. SR: Standardized residuals (values ≤ −1.96 and/or ≥ 1.96 are statistically significant for a p value p ≤ .05)

Table 3. Gender differences in BMI contingencies and satisfaction with weight. (n = 3353*)

	Males (n = 1191)			Females (n = 2162)			Contrast Test
BMI Contingencies	n	%	SR	n	%	SR	χ^2	p
FC – Favorable Concordance	870	73.0	2.4	1390	64.3	−1.8	29.94	<.001
FD – Favorable Discrepancy	156	13.1	−1.4	336	15.5	1.1
UC – Unfavorable Concordance	91	7.6	−1.8	219	10.1	1.4
UD – Unfavorable Discrepancy	74	6.2	−2.9	217	10.0	2.1
Satisfaction with weight
Wants to lose weight	328	27.6	−10.3	1293	59.8	7.6	372.16	<.001
Satisfied	658	55.4	6.6	776	35.9	−4.9
Wants to gain weight	202	17.0	9.5	93	4.3	−7.0

SR: Standardized residuals (values ≤ −1.96 and/or ≥ 1.96 are statistically significant for a p value p ≤ .05); * – Nine participants did not provide information on their gender (3362–9 = 3353).