Relationship of Weight-Based Teasing and Adolescents’ Psychological Well-Being and Physical Health
Abstract
BACKGROUND: To date, research has focused primarily on psychological correlates of weight-based teasing. In this study, we extended previous work by also examining physical health-related variables (eg, physical self-concept and physical fitness [PF]). METHODS: Participants included 1419 middle school students (637 boys and 782 girls). Of these, 245 (17.3%) reported being teased about being overweight. Participants completed measures of self-esteem, depression, physical self-concept, physical activity (PA) self-efficacy, and self-report physical and sedentary activities. Participants also completed PF testing. RESULTS: After controlling for demographic characteristics, participants who were teased about being overweight had higher scores on depression and lower scores on self-esteem, physical self-concept, PA self-efficacy, and health-related measures of PF in comparison to participants who were not teased. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study support previous research indicating relationships between teasing and low levels of psychological well-being, physical self-concept, and PA self-efficacy, and establishes one between weight-based teasing and different types of PF. Research is needed to determine the potential causal nature of the relationships between teasing and fitness and evidence-based interventions are needed to reduce weight-based teasing and its potential effects on health and well-being.
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The relationship between weight and self-esteem is complex and bidirectional.
“The relationship between weight and self-esteem is complex and bidirectional.”
Low self-esteem can contribute to unhealthy weight-management behaviors such as disordered eating, which may exacerbate weight concerns and further diminish psychological well-being.
“On the other hand, low self-esteem can contribute to unhealthy behaviors related to weight management, such as disordered eating patterns, which may exacerbate weight concerns and further diminish psychological well-being.”
Societal pressures and internalized weight stigma can lead individuals to view their self-worth through their body weight, with deviations from the societal ideal negatively impacting self-esteem.
“On the one hand, societal pressures and internalized weight stigma can lead individuals to view their self-worth through the prism of their body weight, with deviations from the societal ideal negatively impacting their self-esteem [77].”
People who experience greater weight-based stigma display less cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength, and endurance.
“Physically, people who experience greater weight-based stigma display less cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength, and endurance [118].”
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“On the one hand, societal pressures and internalized weight stigma can lead individuals to view their self-worth through the prism of their body weight, with deviations from the societal ideal negatively impacting their self-esteem [77].”
Background
- Authors
- Greenleaf, C., Petrie, T. A., & Martin, S. B.
- Affiliations
- University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (US)
- University of North Texas (US)
- Corresponding author
- Greenleaf, Christy
- Venue
- Journal of School Health
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2013-12-10
- Volume
- 84
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 49-55
- ISSN
- 0022-4391 (ISSN-L)
- 1746-1561
- OpenAlex
- W2064877412
- Cited by
- 130
- References
- 41
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 1
- FWCI
- 6.92
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of School Health (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Association for Sport and Physical Education
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Pharmacy › Obesity and Health Practices
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
- Keywords
- weight-based teasing, weight stigma, adolescents, psychological well-being, self-esteem, depression, physical self-concept, physical fitness, exercise self-efficacy, sedentary behavior, junior high school students, overweight
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adolescent Behavior, Depression, Female, Health Education, Health Status, Humans, Male, Obesity, Peer Group, Surveys and Questionnaires, Schools, Self Concept, Psychological Distance, Students, United States, Comorbidity, Bullying
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