Body-Image Accuracy Varies By Weight Status and Is Not Driven By Perceived BMI

By driving weight-control choices, self-perceived weight status affects health. We found Americans’ self-perceived overweight was usually correct and self-perceived underweight was usually incorrect, but self-perceived BMI averaged correct, suggesting systematically distorted body-size norms. To motivate health, perceived ‘normal’ should reflect BMI rather than inaccurate norms of media or peers.