Focus on Success


The stigmatizing impact of being overweight may begin as early as the preschool years. As early as 5 years, lower self-esteem is noted among overweight girl. Five year olds express a fear of gaining weight. They are learning what is considered physically attractive (i.e., a thin body shape) from the media, watching television and watching overweight children get teased by classmates. They begin to judge their own bodies based on what they see and hear as being desirable.

In a study of 4747 obese adolescents(BMI > 95th percentile) in St Paul- Minneapolis public school 63% of girls and 58% of boys report frequent teasing about their weight. Peers describe obese youth as less physically attractive, less athletic, more sick, tired, and absent from school. Being seen as less attractive and less athletic by peers, obese girls were also less likely to date.

By age 13 to 14 lower levels of self esteem becomes evident in more than 70% of teen age boys and girls. This is associated with increased levels of sadness, loneliness and nervousness. Teens with lowered levels of self esteem are much likely to smoke, drink alcohol and experiment with legal and illegal prescription drugs compared to obese children whose self esteem is intact. Low levels of self esteem have been correlated with tobacco and alcohol use as early as the 4th grade. This is especially important, because teens often use smoking as a mean to control eating. A viscous circle develops-the more eating and drinking leads to more smoking.

Depressive symptoms are widespread, affecting 10% to 15% of the child and adolescent population, and are a known precursor to suicidal ideation and attempts. Suicide in 15 to 19 year olds is the third leading cause of death among adolescents boys ( 13.3 deaths per 100 000) and girls (2.8 deaths per 100 000). Identifying teasing in this group may be a modifiable social factor that can reduce teen suicide. Struggling with self issues including self esteem occurs in every child as he matures. Overeating and overweight children simply suffer more.







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