Percentage of Canadian children and youth in Grades 6 through 10 who report their body as too thin, about right or too fat, Canada, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014 – The Health of Canada’s Children and Youth

5.2.2 Percentage of Canadian children and youth in Grades 6 through 10 who report their body as too thin, about right or too fat, Canada, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014

Source: CICH graphic created using data from Freeman JG, King M and Pickett W. Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) in Canada: Focus on Relationships. 2016. Using data from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children survey. 2014. Accessed April 8, 2018. http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/publications/science-research-sciences-recherches/health-behaviour-children-canada-2015-comportements-sante-jeunes/alt/health-behaviour-children-canada-2015-comportements-santé-jeunes-eng.pdf

The perception of their body image among Canadian students in Grades 6 through 10 remained relatively stable between 2002 and 2014.

Between 28% and 30% felt they were too fat and 14-15% felt they were too thin. Just over half, 55% to 57% thought they were just right.

Implications
More children feel they are too fat (just under a third) than are actually obese (less than one fifth). Feeling fat can lead to unnecessary stress and unhealthy attempts to lose weight.