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Weight-related teasing in a racially diverse sample of sixth-grade children

Lacey Arneson McCormack1, Melissa Nelson Laska, Clifton Gray

  • 1Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA.

Journal of the American Dietetic Association
|February 23, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Weight-based teasing is common among children, particularly those who are overweight or obese. This teasing negatively impacts children's body satisfaction, highlighting a significant issue in child well-being.

Area of Science:

  • Child Psychology
  • Public Health
  • Sociology

Background:

  • Weight-based teasing is linked to negative outcomes.
  • Limited research exists on teasing prevalence, effects, and sources among children.
  • Understanding these factors is crucial for intervention development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the prevalence and frequency of weight-related teasing by peers and family in a diverse, low-income child sample.
  • To assess children's emotional responses to teasing and its variation by overweight status and sex.
  • To investigate the relationship between teasing history and body satisfaction.

Main Methods:

  • Secondary data analysis of 148 children (aged 11-12) from a pilot study in St Paul, MN.
  • Classroom surveys collected data on body satisfaction and weight-related teasing.
  • Height and weight measurements determined overweight status.

Main Results:

  • 40% of children reported peer teasing and 36% reported family teasing about weight.
  • Overweight/obese children experienced significantly more teasing from peers and family.
  • Children who were teased had lower body satisfaction compared to those not teased.

Conclusions:

  • Weight-related teasing is a prevalent issue affecting children, especially those who are overweight or obese.
  • Teasing by peers and family negatively impacts children's body satisfaction.
  • Further research is needed on the long-term psychosocial effects in diverse populations.

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