Resumo Objetivo: Verificar a associação da percepção (acima ou abaixo) do peso corporal esperado com os comportamentos para controle de peso em adolescentes. Métodos: Estudo transversal, feito com 1.051 adolescentes (15 a 19 anos) do ensino médio de escolas públicas estaduais. Foram coletadas informações sobre a percepção do peso corporal (variável dependente), comportamentos de controle de peso (iniciativa para mudar o peso, prática de exercícios físicos, comer menos ou cortar calorias, ficar 24 h sem comer, tomar medicamentos, vomitar ou tomar laxantes) e aferidas as medidas de massa corporal e estatura para cálculo do índice de massa corporal e classificação do status do peso. As associações foram testadas por meio da regressão logística multinomial. Resultados: Adolescentes de ambos os sexos com percepção do peso corporal abaixo do peso esperado apresentaram mais iniciativas para ganhar peso e aqueles que se percebiam acima do peso tiveram mais iniciativas para perder peso. Nos adolescentes que se percebiam acima do peso, o comportamento de não tomar medicamento esteve associado ao desfecho apenas nos rapazes (OR = 8,12), enquanto nas moças observou-se associação com comer menos, cortar calorias ou evitar alimentos gordurosos para perder ou para não aumentar o peso corporal (OR = 3,39). Adolescentes de ambos os sexos que faziam exercício físico tiveram maior chance de se perceber acima do peso (masculino OR = 2,00; feminino OR = 1,93). Conclusão: A percepção do peso acima e abaixo do peso esperado esteve associada aos comportamentos de controle de peso, nos quais, respectivamente, tinham mais chances de tomar iniciativas para perder e para ganhar peso.

Abstract Objective: To investigate the association between the perception of body weight (as above or below the desired) and behaviors for body weight control in adolescents. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that included 1051 adolescents (aged 15-19 years) who were high school students attending public schools. The authors collected information on the perception of body weight (dependent variable), weight control behaviors (initiative to change the weight, physical exercise, eating less or cutting calories, fasting for 24 h, taking medications, vomiting, or taking laxatives), and measured body weight and height to calculate the body mass index and then classify the weight status. Associations were tested by multinomial logistic regression analysis. Results: Adolescents of both sexes who perceived their body weight as below the expected weight took more initiatives to gain weight, and those who perceived themselves as overweight made more efforts to lose weight. In adolescents who perceived themselves as overweight, the behavior of not taking medication was associated with the outcome only in boys (Odds Ratio = 8.12), whereas in girls, an association was observed with the variables eating less, cutting calories, or avoiding fatty foods aiming to lose or avoid increasing body weight (Odds Ratio = 3.39). Adolescents of both sexes who practiced exercises were more likely to perceive themselves as overweight (male Odds Ratio = 2.00; Odds Ratio = 1.93 female). Conclusion: The perception of the body weight as above and below one's expected weight was associated with weight control behaviors, which were more likely to result in initiatives to lose and gain weight, respectively.