Self‐Esteem and Change in Body Mass Index over 3 Years in a Cohort of Adolescents

French, Simone A.; Perry, Cheryl L.; Leon, Gloria R.; Fulkerson, Jayne A.

doi:10.1002/j.1550-8528.1996.tb00509.x

Cited by 113 publications

(63 citation statements)

References 36 publications

(42 reference statements)

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“…One study in black children (51) and one study in white adolescent females (20) suggest high self-esteem is protective against increases in body mass index over time. Additional studies are needed to examine self-esteem and body-esteem in relationship to age of onset of obesity, severity and duration.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Gortmaker et al (23) found no cross-sectional relationship between overweight status and self-esteem in 10,039 young adults aged 16 to 24. However, French et al (20) found an inverse relationship between body mass index and physical appearance self-esteem in 1278 white female and male adolescents. In addition, in females, body mass index was inversely related with global self-esteem, close friendship self-esteem and behavioral conduct self-esteem.…”

Section: Cross-sectional Studiesmentioning

confidence: 98%

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Self‐Esteem and Obesity in Children and Adolescents: A Literature Review

1995

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FRENCH, SIMONE A, MARY STORY AND CHERYL L PERRY. Self-esteem and obesity in children and adolescents: A literature review. Obes Res.The relationship between self-esteem and obesity has not received a great deal of empirical evaluation using strong research methodologies. Thus, it is not clear whether self-esteem is consistently related to obesity, whether the relationship is global or specific to physical appearance, whether the relationship differs by demographic variables such as age, gender or racelethnicity, or whether self-esteem moderates weight changes during weight loss treatment programs. This review examines these questions using empirical evidence from 35 studies on the relationship between self-esteem and obesity in children and adolescents. Thirteen of 25 cross sectional studies clearly showed lower self-esteem in obese adolescents and children. Five of the six cross-sectional studies that included a measure of body esteem found lower body esteem in obese compared to normal weight children and adolescents. Results from two prospective studies examining initial self-esteem and later obesity were inconsistent. Results from six of eight treatment studies showed that weight loss treatment programs appear to improve self-esteem. However, it is unclear whether increases in self-esteem are related to enhanced weight loss. Many studies were methodologically weak primarily due to small and select samples and lack of appropriate comparison groups. Implications for prevention and treatment of childhood obesity are discussed.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Cross-sectional Studiesmentioning

confidence: 98%

Self‐Esteem and Obesity in Children and Adolescents: A Literature Review

1995

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“…9 Until the mid-1990s the evidence on the relation between obesity and self-esteem in children was surprisingly inconsistent. 10 However, subsequent research has shown reduced global self-worth and reduced physical appearance selfesteem in obese adolescents, 11 obese preadolescents, [12][13][14] and overweight 5 year olds. 15 Low self-esteem is important because it is a risk factor for negative affective states such as anxiety and depression.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Children's weight-loss camps: psychological benefit or jeopardy?

et al. 2003

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OBJECTIVES:To investigate the change in body image, self-esteem, and worries in obese adolescents attending a residential, weight-loss camp. DESIGN: A longitudinal intervention study, with a nonintervention comparison group of lean adolescents. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 57 obese adolescents (age: 13,11; BMI: 32.6 kg/m 2 ) and 38 normal weight comparison adolescents. MEASURES: Self-esteem, salience of weight-related issues, body shape preference, weight and height at the start, and end of the weight-loss camp (mean stay: 4 weeks). RESULTS: The obese adolescents lost 5.6 kg, reduced their BMI by 2.1 kg/m 2 , and BMI s.d. score by 0.28 while comparison children gained weight. Body shape dissatisfaction significantly decreased and self-esteem increased on measures of global selfworth, athletic competence, and physical appearance, in the camp attendees. This improvement took place without any exacerbation of existing worries about appearance or weight. CONCLUSIONS: While obese adolescents had lower self-worth and greater body dissatisfaction relative to the comparison children at the start of the camp, the intervention improved their psychological state. Greater weight loss was associated with greater psychological improvement, indicating the value of the intervention and the relevance of psychological change in effective treatment.

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“…37 Feelings of low self-worth, especially in relation to physical appearance, are found in some, but not all, overweight children and adolescents. 38,39 It has been observed that food advertisements use emotional appeals, linking products with concepts such as fun, happiness, health and wellbeing, and so marketing personal enhancement. 40,41 The strength and immediacy of emotional appeals, coupled with low body esteem, may make overweight children particularly vulnerable to commercials that promote personal enhancement via the consumption of foods.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Food advertising on British children’s television: a content analysis and experimental study with nine-year olds

1998

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OBJECTIVES: The nature and signi®cance of food advertising during children's television was examined in two studies: a content analysis of advertising (Study 1) and an investigation of the impact of food adverts on the selfperception of overweight children (Study 2). PARTICIPANTS: Study 1 monitored 91 h of children's broadcasting on four terrestrial and satellite stations in the UK. In Study 2, 103 children aged 9.75 y viewed two videotaped cartoons containing either food or non-food product advertisements. MEASURES: Study 1 used a detailed record of advertisement style and content. Study 2 included a self-report measure of current state, and measures of self-esteem, dietary restraint, body weight and height. RESULTS: Half of the 828 adverts were for food products, 60% of which were for breakfast cereals and confectionery/ snacks. Food advertisements used signi®cantly more animation, stories, humour and the promotion of fun/happiness/mood alteration. In Study 2, signi®cant interactions between advertisement type and overweight were observed on ratings of perceived health and appetite for sweets. CONCLUSION: While small changes are apparent, advertisements during children's television are still dominated by those for foods of questionable nutritional value, in a manner designed to engage attention and emotional response. That overweight children appeared more in¯uenced by their personal enhancement message, suggests the value of further work identifying who is most in¯uenced and by what features of advertising.

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Self‐Esteem and Change in Body Mass Index over 3 Years in a Cohort of Adolescents

Cited by 113 publications

References 36 publications

Self‐Esteem and Obesity in Children and Adolescents: A Literature Review

Self‐Esteem and Obesity in Children and Adolescents: A Literature Review

Children's weight-loss camps: psychological benefit or jeopardy?

Food advertising on British children’s television: a content analysis and experimental study with nine-year olds

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