Psychosocial correlates of adolescent obesity, ‘slimming down’ and ‘becoming obese’

Abstract 

Purpose

(a) To examine how self-reported well-being, weight-related concerns, self-image, peer relationships and psychiatric disorders are associated with obesity at ages 11 and 15 years. (b) To identify and describe those who “slim down” (become nonobese) or “become obese”.

Methods

A cohort of 2127 school pupils was surveyed at ages 11 and 15 years. At each age, those with body mass index above the 95th percentile for age and gender were categorized as obese. Characteristics associated with obesity, “slimming down” and “becoming obese” were examined using ANOVA and chi-square procedures for univariate, and logistic regression for multivariate analyses.

Results

At age 11, 9.6% (males) and 10.5% (females) were obese, compared with 10.5% (males) and 11.6% (females) at age 15. “Slimming down” occurred for 3.5% of the total sample, whereas 4.5% “became obese.” Obesity was associated with significant but small differences in low mood (males at 11) and self-esteem (males at 11, females at both ages), and reduced rates of behavior disorders (data on psychiatric disorders available only at age 15). Obesity was associated with weight-related worries, dieting, and poor self-rated appearance, but not most measures of peer relationships, except that obese 11-year-olds experienced greater victimization, partly accounting for their poorer well-being. In comparison with the continuously nonobese, those who “became obese” had lower prior self-esteem and greater victimization, but improvements in well-being and relative reductions in victimization by age 15. “Slimming down” was related to neither prior nor subsequent well-being in comparison with continual obesity, but was associated with better age 15 mood in comparison with continual nonobesity.

Conclusions

Although overweight was fairly stable, there were shifts in and out of the obese category during adolescence. Obesity during this life-stage, though strongly related to worries about putting on weight and self-report dieting, was associated with only small differences in psychological well-being.

Keywords:  Obesity , Adolescence , Self-esteem , Depression , Psychiatric disorder , Self-image, Peer relationships