Logistic regression reveals weight perception affects depression and suicidality differently by sex in adolescents, suggesting tailored interventions are needed.
Key Points
BMI-based obesity is more common in male adolescents (22.5%) than females (17.4%), highlighting a sex difference in obesity rates.
Approximately 30.7% of female participants exhibited depression, contrasting with 21.3% of males, indicating a significant sex difference in mental health risks.
Overweight perception significantly increases depression risk for females without obesity, raising it by 1.106 times compared to underweight perception.
Findings underscore the necessity for sex-specific mental health interventions and proper weight recognition education for adolescents.