Teens who are obese face a lot of physical difficulties, but Swedish researchers report that many obese teens struggle with painful emotional issues, too.
Researchers from Uppsala University in Sweden surveyed 4,703 15- and 17-year-old teens about their height, weight, and symptoms of depression. Teens were also asked to report on their "shame experiences" - whether they'd ever been treated or talked about in a degrading manner, made fun of in front of others, questioned about their sense of honor, or ignored as if they didn't exist. The teens also noted whether their parents were separated or living together, whether their parents worked or were unemployed, and whether their families had computers, boats, country homes, or other measures of wealth.
Overall, more boys than girls were overweight or obese, but more girls showed signs of depression. In addition, teens whose parents were separated or who had unemployed parents were more likely to report symptoms of depression.
The results showed that having a high body mass index was linked to symptoms of depression. Obese teens were more likely to report being depressed, compared to overweight teens or teens at a healthy weight. In addition, obese teens were more likely to have been ridiculed or degraded by others, compared to overweight or normal-weight teens.
What This Means to You: Helping obese or overweight teens doesn't just involve improving diet and exercise. The results of this study indicate that many obese teens must cope with emotional issues, ridicule, and degradation, too.
Developing healthy self-esteem may be one way your child can reduce the effects of shame, embarrassment, and outright bullying. Praise your child as much as possible, teach your child to recognize and modify negative thoughts, and encourage your child to exercise regularly - these are just a few strategies that may boost your teen's self-esteem. If you are concerned about your child's weight or self-esteem, talk to your child's doctor.
Source: Richard L. Sjoberg, MD, PhD; Kent W. Nilsson, BA; Jerzy Leppert, MD, PhD; Pediatrics, September 2005
Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: October 2005
