Summary
The obesity crisis is one of the largest public health challenges of the 21st century. Population level adiposity has increased dramatically in recent times and people not recognising that they have overweight or obesity is now common. It has been widely assumed that not recognising oneself as having overweight is detrimental to weight management and long‐term health. Here diverse research is reviewed that converges on the counterintuitive conclusion that not recognising oneself as having overweight is actually associated with more favourable physical and mental health outcomes than recognising oneself as having overweight. Drawing on existing models in social psychology and weight stigma research, an explanatory model of the health effects of self‐perception of overweight is outlined. This model proposes that self‐perception of overweight triggers social rejection concerns and the internalisation of weight stigma, which in turn induce psychological distress and negatively impact on health promoting lifestyle behaviours. How self‐perception of overweight may in part explain progression from overweight to obesity and the public health implications of self‐perception of overweight and obesity are also discussed.