Self-concept measures and childhood obesity: a descriptive analysis

Little is known about the possible effects of age, race, gender, or degree of obesity on measurements of self-concept in children. Our study of 130 obese children enrolled in an outpatient obesity clinic showed that their mean overall score on the Piers-Harris (P-H) Children's Self-Concept Scale was within the norms. However, certain subgroups scored low, with nonwhite children displaying the lowest self-esteem, particularly younger girls and adolescent males. For boys, the severity of obesity was inversely associated with the overall score and the intellectual school status subscale. Girls scored lower on anxiety. Younger white males scored the lowest on popularity. Our findings thus suggest that there is heterogeneity in self-concept measures among obese children, and that the use of subscales might provide greater insight and also possibly enhance sensitivity of the P-H in the investigation of obesity and self-concept.