The association of weight status and weight perception with number of confidants in adolescents

Abstract

Weight status and self-weight perception are related to social relationship issues. Studies have suggested links between non-normal weight status or weight perception and youths having fewer confidants, but these relationships are unclear and remain to be studied. This preliminary cross-sectional study examined the effects of weight status and weight perception on the number of confidants in adolescents. Self-report data from 15,279 grade 7–12 students (54.2% boys) were analyzed. The number of confidants (0–3 or ≥ 4) was examined, according to five weight status categories (underweight, low-normal weight, mid-normal weight (reference), high-normal weight, overweight, with Body Mass Index corresponding to ≤ 18.5, ≤ 20.0, ≤ 22.5, ≤ 25.0 and > 25.0 in adults, respectively), and five weight perception categories (too thin, a bit thin, good (reference), a bit fat, too fat). Boys and girls who were overweight and those who perceived themselves to be too fat were significantly more likely to have few confidants. High-normal weight in girls and self-perception of being a bit fat in boys were also associated with having few confidants. In boys, underweight and self-perception of being too thin were additionally associated with having few confidants. Adolescents with non-normal weight status or weight perception may have fewer confidants and require more social support.

Correlations of body structure and size indicators with personality indicators of practically healthy women with mesomorphic somatotype

“…Asuka Nishida and co-authors [21] found that there was correlation between adolescents' body weight and the number of their proxies. After analyzing data from 15,279 pupils, the authors found that both overweight boys and girls were much more likely to have a small number of proxies.…”

Overestimation of body weight and its association with parental, teacher and peer support: evidence from the Israeli Health Behaviours in Schools survey

“…In a representative survey conducted among adolescents in the UK, only 7 % of normal-weight adolescents perceived themselves to be too heavy, with higher percentages among girls (39) . Among adolescents in Japan, overestimation was documented among girls only, with 23•2 % of underweight girls and 45 % of low-normal weight girls who perceived themselves as a bit too fat (40) . Overestimation of body weight was prevalent among 16•6 % of the participants in the Youth Risk Behaviour Surveillance Surveys, with higher prevalence rates among sexual minorities (41) .…”

Association between weight, weight perception, weight teasing and mental health among adolescents

“…In this study, after controlling actual body weight, we found that underweight and overweight perception were independently associated with a higher risk of loneliness. Previous study has indicated that adolescents with non-normal weight perception had fewer confidants, which might increase the risk of loneliness, thus further studies were in need to explore it [ 43 ]. In the majority of studies, underweight perception was associated with worse psychological outcomes only among boys [ 16 , 44 ].…”