Relationship between perceived body weight and body mass index based on self- reported height and weight among university students: a cross-sectional study in seven European countries

Table 2 BMI categories and perceived weight status by country and gender (%)

Characteristics	DE, 2005 N = 739	DK, 2005 N = 530	PL, 2005 N = 564	BG, 2005 N = 692	TR, 2003 N = 1005	LT, 2000 N = 1016	ES, 1998 N = 796
BMI Categories (derived from self-reported height and weight)
Female
Underweight	9.2	6.7	16.8	30.4	20.8	11.5	11.0
Normal weight	78.8	75.3	76.1	64.9	74.2	83.4	79.4
Overweight	8.9	13.3	5.8	4.0	4.7	4.7	8.6
Obese	3.1	4.7	1.3	.6	.3	.4	1.0
Male
Underweight	1.0	1.5	2.5	5.0	4.2	3.9	1.7
Normal weight	71.7	74.2	81.9	81.2	80.1	84.2	80.6
Overweight	22.2	20.0	14.4	12.8	14.7	11.8	16.7
Obese	5.1	4.4	1.3	.9	1.0	.2	1.0
Perceived weight status
Female
Much too thin	.5		.8	1.1	1.6	.9	4.3
A little too thin	3.7	5.1	6.4	5.6	17.7	8.4	9.1
Just right	38.2	44.3	38.6	47.2	45.4	67.9	44.5
A little too fat	51.0	44.3	47.3	44.2	34.0	22.1	38.7
Much too fat	6.6	6.3	6.9	1.9	1.3	.7	3.4
Male
Much too thin	3.8	1.1	8.3	3.7	2.0	3.4	4.5
A little too thin	21.3	13.1	29.5	22.9	25.8	20.5	19.4
Just right	32.1	53.8	39.7	52.3	50.2	63.8	48.8
A little too fat	37.8	29.5	19.9	20.2	21.7	11.4	25.3
Much too fat	5.1	2.5	2.6	.9	.3	.9	2.1

ISSN: 1471-2458