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Purpose: This paper aims to explore the relationship between body image, self-efficacy, self-esteem, and weight-loss intention among college students, offering insights to promote healthy and confident lifestyle habits. Methods: Undergraduate students from western China were selected using a stratified random sampling method. Data were analyzed using SPSS 19.0 and AMOS 21.0 statistical software. Results: (1) Body image showed a significantly positive correlation with self-efficacy and self-esteem but a negative correlation with weight-loss intention. Self-efficacy exhibited a significantly positive correlation with self-esteem and a negative correlation with weight-loss intention, while self-esteem was significantly negatively correlated with weight-loss intention. (2) Body image directly impacted weight-loss intention [Effect Size (ES) = -0.120]. Self-efficacy (ES = -0.069) and self-esteem (ES = -0.119) played significant mediating roles between body image and weight-loss intention, respectively. (3) The chained intermediary role of self-efficacy and self-esteem also reached significance (ES = -0.038). Conclusion: Body image conducts effect on the degree of weight-loss intention among college students through direct ways or indirect ways such as the intermediary role of self-efficacy and self-esteem, and also the chained intermediary role of self-efficacy and self-esteem. In addition, self-esteem is another key factors affecting college students' weight-loss intention.

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BACKGROUND: Young females tend to overestimate their weight status, which might induce unhealthy weight loss intentions and behaviours. This study aimed to examine weight perception measured by visual and verbal descriptions and its correlation with weight loss intentions among female nursing students. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 600 female nursing students from four medical colleges in Shanghai, China. The participants rated perceptions of their weight by selecting a silhouette from the female Photographic Figure Rating Scale (PFRS) and one of the following verbal descriptions: "very underweight", "slightly underweight", "normal", "overweight" or "obese". Weight loss intentions were measured using the question "How often do you want to lose weight?". Body mass index (BMI) was calculated from self-reported height and weight. Data were analysed using univariate and ordinal logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: The accuracy of weight perceptions measured by verbal descriptions and visual descriptions was 44.50% and 55%, respectively. In females with underweight BMI (n = 135), 88.15% and 49.63% accurately classified their weight using visual descriptions and verbal descriptions, respectively. These females were more likely to overestimate (53.83% vs. 14.50%) and less likely to underestimate (1.67% vs. 30.50%) their weight when using verbal descriptions than when using visual descriptions. For verbal descriptions, weight overestimation was associated with weight loss intentions (odds ratio, 1.80; 95% confidence interval, 1.25-2.60). However, for visual descriptions, the two variables were not associated. CONCLUSIONS: A mismatch occurred between weight perceptions measured by the two methods and BMI status among female nursing students. Compared with verbal descriptions, visual descriptions had higher weight perception accuracy. However, weight overestimation measured by verbal descriptions was more likely to be associated with stronger intentions to lose weight than that of visual descriptions. These findings suggest that methodological discrepancies should be taken into account when measuring weight perception in future studies.

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INTRODUCTION: Although obesity is associated with weight loss intention, the magnitude of this association may differ across various populations. Using a nationally representative data of the United States, this study tested the variation of the association between obesity and weight loss intention based on race and gender. METHODS: Data came from the National Survey of American Life (NSAL), 2001-2003, which enrolled 5,810 nationally representative sample of adults (3,516 African Americans, 1,415 Caribbean Blacks, and 879 Non-Hispanic Whites). Socio-demographics, body mass index (BMI), and weight loss intention were measured. We fitted logistic regression models in the pooled sample with weight loss intention as outcome, obesity (BMI > 30) as predictor, while the effect of covariates were controlled. To test our moderation hypotheses, we entered race * obesity and gender * obesity interactions to the model. RESULTS: Although the association between obesity and weight loss intention was significant among both race and gender groups, the magnitude of the association between obesity and weight loss intention was larger for women than men and Whites than Blacks. That means individuals with obesity have less intention for weight loss if they are Black or men. CONCLUSION: The link between obesity and weight loss intention depends on race and gender. Weight loss intention may not increase in response to obesity among Blacks and men, compared to Whites and women. Healthy weight programs in the United States may benefit from tailoring based on race and gender.

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OBJECTIVE: To examine whether weight loss strategies are associated with consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), snacks or food values. METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis of 24-h dietary recall data obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2010 (N=9440). RESULTS: Adults trying to lose weight consumed roughly 2000 total calories, 250 calories from SSBs, 225 calories from salty snacks, and 350 calories from sweet snacks. Adults not trying to lose weight consumed roughly 2300 total calories, 300 calories from SSBs, 250 calories from salty snacks, and 380 calories from sweet snacks. While overweight and obese adults trying to lose weight consumed fewer calories than those who were not, heavier adults trying to lose weight using dietary strategies or a combination of diet and physical activity consumed more calories than healthy weight adults using that same weight loss strategy (p<0.05). Price (>70%) and nutrition (>50%) were most when making food choices (p<0.05) for all groups. CONCLUSION: Consumption of discretionary calories is high regardless of body weight or weight loss intention. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Promoting reduced SSB and snack consumption in the clinical setting may be important for weight loss, particularly among heavier individuals. Clinicians should consider values related to food purchasing to identify concrete behavioral targets.

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