PURPOSE: Underestimating one's weight is often seen as a barrier to weight loss. However, recent research has shown that weight underperception may be beneficial, with lower future @entity1017 and fewer @entity308 . Here, we examine the relationship between adolescent weight underperception and future blood pressure. METHODS: Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, we obtained a nationally representative sample of 2,463 adolescents with overweight and @entity28 (students in grades 8-12 in 1996). We used multivariable linear regression to prospectively examine the relationship between weight self-perception in adolescence and blood pressure in adulthood (year 2008; follow-up rate 80.3%), controlling for age, gender, race/ethnicity, smoking, @entity285 consumption, education level, household income, and body mass index. Additional analyses were stratified by gender and race/ethnicity. RESULTS: Youth with overweight/ @entity28 who underperceived their weight had lower blood pressure in adulthood than those who perceived themselves to be overweight. The decrease in systolic blood pressure was  -2.5  mm Hg (95% confidence interval: -4.3, -0.7; p  = .006). Although the interaction by gender was statistically insignificant (p  = .289), important differences appeared upon stratification by gender. Young @entity1 showed no significant difference in adult blood pressure related to weight self-perception. Conversely, in young @entity1 , weight underperception was associated with an average decrease in systolic blood pressure of  -4.3  mm Hg (95% confidence interval: -7.0, -1.7; p  = .002). CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to conventional wisdom, weight underperception is associated with improved health markers in young @entity1 . The observed differences in blood pressure are clinically relevant in magnitude, and interventions to correct weight underperception should be re-examined for unintended consequences.

Protective Misperception? Prospective Study of Weight Self-Perception and Blood Pressure in Adolescents With Overweight and XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['women', 'men'] @entity308 :: ('MESH:D003866', 'Disease') :: ['depressive symptoms'] @entity28 :: ('MESH:D009765', 'Disease') :: ['obesity'] @entity1017 :: ('MESH:D015430', 'Disease') :: ['weight gain'] @entity285 :: ('D000431', 'Chemical') :: ['alcohol']
@entity28 :: (MESH:D009765,Disease) :: ['Obesity']
