Table 3.

Results of analyses examining mediation of the relationships of wave IV weight category with metabolic health (Hypothesis 2 A) and change in BMI (Hypothesis 2B) via self-perceived weight, among eligible participants in the add health study

Hypothesis 2 A: Association Between Wave IV Weight Category and Wave V Metabolic Health, Mediated by Self-Perceived Weight (n = 788)
Wave IV Weight Category	Direct Effects Risk Difference (95% CI)	Indirect Effects Risk Difference (95% CI)	Total Effects Risk Difference (95% CI)
Normal weight	Ref	Ref	Ref
Overweight	0.15 (0.060, 0.24)	0.0046 (− 0.025, 0.033)	0.15 (0.071, 0.24)
Obesity	0.31 (0.20, 0.41)	0.0095 (− 0.050, 0.071)	0.32 (0.24, 0.39)

Hypothesis 2B: Association Between Wave IV Weight Category and change in BMI between Wave IV and Wave V, Mediated by Self-Perceived Weight (n = 901)
Wave IV Weight Category	Direct Effects β (95% CI)	Indirect Effects β (95% CI)	Total Effects β (95% CI)
Normal weight	Ref	Ref	Ref
Overweight	0.76 (− 0.010, 1.51)	− 0.30 (− 0.74, 0.14)	0.45 (− 0.18, 1.07)
Obesity	− 0.48 (− 1.54, 0.60)	− 0.51 (− 1.26, 0.24)	− 0.98 (− 1.74, − 0.21)

BMI body mass index, CI confidence interval

Bold indicates statistical significance at the α = 0.05 level

The R mediation package was used to estimate direct, indirect, and total effects. Models were adjusted for Wave IV age, race, sex, Wave IV educational attainment, and Wave IV smoking status