Self-Perceived versus actual Body Mass Index using a 3D Avatar

Cooling, Kate and Mills, Claire D ORCID: 0000-0003-4156-4593 (2019) Self-Perceived versus actual Body Mass Index using a 3D Avatar. In: Circle Conference: 16th International Conference for Consumer Behaviour and Retailing Research, 25-26 April, University of Gloucestershire.

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Abstract

Introduction: Literature surrounding, body image, body composition and Body Mass Index (BMI) have shown that there is a huge under-diagnosis for both children and adults being overweight (Lemay et al., 2003), further demonstrating that improvement in the diagnosis of overweight is needed (Perrin, Flower & Ammerman, 2004). Previous research have incorporated both perceived body image (PBI) and measured BMI, have reported that there has been an underestimation of BMI through PBI (Madrigal et al., 2000). Therefore, the main objectives of this investigation was to determine participants BMI, investigate participants perceived BMI and finally to establish the correlation between actual and perceived. BMI. Methods: n = 20 female participants ( ± s; weight = 68.1 ± 12.4 kg, height = 168.9 ± 7.6 cm) were recruited from the same University. Participants were over 18 years of age were selected using the convenient sampling technique and gave their informed consent and were aware of their right to withdraw. A quantitative research design was adopted alongside the use of a computer generated (Unity Player) ‘Avatar’. P value was set at (P<0.001), Paired t-test and Pearson's Correlation Coefficient (r) was used to test for the strength and significance between the actual and perceived BMI. Results: Results indicated that perceived BMI ranged from 16.5-29.0 with an average of 23.4 (± 3.6). Whereas the actual BMI ranged from 17.7-31.3 with an average of 23.7 (± 3.6). t = 0.64 and r = 0.67 were found, suggesting a significant difference (P <0.003) between the actual and perceived BMI. Conclusion: This investigation has found that it contradicts findings from Madrigal et al., (2000) where there was often an underestimation of perceived BMI within females, whereas it is in agreement with research conducted by Caccamese, Kolodner & Wright (2002) who also discovered that the use of visual impressions often led to a false sense of weight status. These results suggests that perceived BMI was higher than the participants actual BMI, however, further research is necessary to investigate the reasons behind these perceived versus actual differences.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Poster)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Body Mass Index; 3D Avatar; Perceptions
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure > GV557 Sports H Social Sciences > HM Sociology
Divisions:	Schools and Research Institutes > School of Education and Science
Research Priority Areas:	Health, Life Sciences, Sport and Wellbeing
Depositing User:	Claire Mills
Date Deposited:	07 May 2019 10:19
Last Modified:	31 Aug 2023 09:08
URI:	https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/6799

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