Psychological well-being in adolescents with excess weight

Self-esteem, perceived health, weight satisfaction, eating habits, physical activity, friendships, intimate relationships, smoking and substance use habits can be regarded as important correlates of psychological well-being in adolescence.

The present study aimed to determine whether problems in the above-mentioned elements of psychological well-being were more prevalent among mid-adolescent pupils with excess weight than among their healthy-weight peers.

The study participants comprised 178 adolescents with excess weight and 1087 healthy-weight peers with a mean age of 14.7 years attending the 8th grade at secondary school. The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Eating Disorder Inventory and a questionnaire assessing health- and food-related attitudes and habits were used.

The adolescents with excess weight more often reported weight dissatisfaction, abnormal eating habits and signs of eating disorder pathology than those with healthy weight. No significant difference in self-esteem was observed between weight groups. The proportion of adolescents who were non-smokers, did not use alcohol and had one or more close friends did not differ between those with excess and healthy weight. However, a lower proportion of excess-weight adolescents had dating experience. Inadequate physical activity was highly prevalent among adolescents in both weight groups.

Despite the high prevalence of eating pathology and weight dissatisfaction, most mid-adolescent pupils with excess weight expressed good psychological health. Targeted psychological interventions should be offered to some adolescents with overweight problems.