DETERMINANTS OF WEIGHT AND HEALTH STATUS PERCEPTION AMONG PORTUGUESE ADULTS

The aims of this research were to evaluate BMI categories, discrepancies between measured and reported BMI, health status’ perception and factors perceived as having the greatest importance in health, as well as to relate them with potencial determinants among the Portuguese adult population. Data from the study “Portuguese Population’s Food Habits and Lifestyles” were used (national representative sample of 3529 subjects). Although the prevalence of obesity seems to be decreasing, overweight is still observed in about half of the Portuguese adults; furthermore, its proportion may even be increasing in men. There was a positive association between age and BMI and the highest proportions of overweight were found in subjects with lower education levels. Values of measured BMI were higher than refered BMI. Older and less educated men underestimated more their BMI, as well as subjects with higher BMI. Portuguese adults showed a high health status perception and selected “food”, “stress”, “practicing exercise”, “smoking” or “drinking alcohol” as factors with greater importance in health. These factors were also associated with higher health status’ perception.