To assess the associations of body weight and body shape concerns and related behaviours with actual weight status among urban adolescent girls.

In the present cross-sectional study, a self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on body weight and body shape concerns and related behaviours. Sociodemographic information was collected using a pre-tested schedule. Weight and height of each girl were measured to assess actual weight status.

Twin cities of Kolkata and Howrah, West Bengal, India.

A total of 1223 adolescent girls aged 14–19 years were selected from nine schools in Kolkata and Howrah in West Bengal.

Many overweight girls perceived themselves as overweight and engaged in weight-reducing activities. However, several normal-weight girls also perceived them as overweight and attempted to lose weight. Unhealthy eating practices to reduce weight were followed by both overweight and normal-weight girls and even by a few underweight girls. Multivariate binary logistic regression showed a significant association between actual weight status and use of unhealthy weight-loss measures. The likelihood of adopting unhealthy eating practices was significantly higher among overweight than normal-weight girls.

Health education programmes should be introduced at schools to promote effective weight-control practices that help dispel myths about weight loss.