Self-Weighing Throughout Adolescence and Young Adulthood: Implications for Well-Being

Abstract

Objective This paper describes the prevalence of self-weighing in the transition period from adolescence to young adulthood and examines cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between self-weighing and weight status, psychological, and behavioral outcomes. Design Project EAT (Eating and Activity in Teens and Young Adults), a longitudinal cohort study that assessed variables 3 times over 10 years. Participants 1,868 adolescents and young adults. Main Outcome Measures weight, BMI, weight disparity, body satisfaction, weight concern, self-esteem, depression and unhealthy weight control behaviors. Analysis cross-sectional and longitudinal. Results Significant positive correlations were found at each time point between self-weighing and weight concern for both genders. Self-weighing was significantly inversely related to self-esteem at each time point in female participants. Increases in endorsement of self-weighing were significantly related to decreases in body satisfaction and self-esteem and increases in weight concern and depression in female participants; and increases in weight concern in male participants. Conclusions and Implications Findings suggest that self-weighing may not be an innocuous behavior for young people, particularly women. Interventions should assess potential harmful consequences of self-weighing in addition to any potential benefits. It may be appropriate for clinicians to ask about self-weighing, and if frequent, explore motivations, perceived benefits, and potential adverse correlates or consequences.

What is the psychological impact of self-weighing? A meta-analysis

“…Given that self-weighing likely draws attention to the body (Mercurio & Rima, 2011 ) and can highlight discrepancies between current and desired shape or weight (Dionne & Yeudall, 2005 ), self-weighing may result in worse psychological outcomes among those who are sensitive or concerned about their bodies. It is likely that this includes teenagers and young adults (Friend, Bauer, Madden, & Neumark-Sztainer, 2012 ; Pacanowski, Loth, Hannan, Linde, & Neumark-Sztainer, 2015 ; Quick et al, 2012 , 2013 ) and females (Geier & Rozin, 2008 ; Pingitore, Spring, & Garfieldt, 1997 ). It will therefore be important to examine whether and how the nature of the sample influences the association between self-weighing and psychological outcomes.…”

Relation Between Daily Self-Weighing and Physique, Lifestyle Factors, and Glycemic Parameters in Japanese College Students

“…In any case, further observational studies with a larger sample size are necessary to confirm these results. Some studies showed that frequent self-weighing caused an increase in anxiety and depression in younger females and predicted binge eating and unhealthy weight control behavior [13,19]. Because questionnaires regarding unhealthy behaviors such as binge eating and family history of diabetes were not administered to students in the present study, further studies should be conducted to examine ways to refine such types of interventions to improve their efficacy.…”

familyPower: A Referral-Based Pediatric Obesity Treatment Program that Connects Clinic to Family

“…However, too much focus on weight can produce important negative psychosocial consequences, particularly among children and adolescents (Birch and Fisher, 1998). A 2015 study of almost 2,000 adolescents and young adults found that a high amount of self-weighing was associated with decreased body satisfaction and self-esteem (Pacanowski et al, 2015). Previous studies by Killen et al (1994) and Rosen et al (1987) found restrained adolescent eaters, such as those trying to lose weight, also exhibited high levels of body dissatisfaction, low self-worth, fear of weight gain, and anxiety.…”