Body dissatisfaction and adolescence suicidality - results from the Danish national birth cohort

Body Dissatisfaction (BD) has been associated with poorer mental health. We investigated associations between BD in early adolescence and suicidality in teenage years.

Data included 24,569 adolescents (59.1% females) from the Danish National Birth Cohort (DNBC). Self-reported BD was assessed at age 11 years, while suicidal ideation and attempts was retrieved at age 18. Levels of BD, the desire to be bigger or smaller, and BD within different body mass index (BMI) strata were examined. Sex, parental socio-demographics and -psychiatric history was adjusted for in multinomial logistic regression and used in weighting procedures to account for selection bias.

Compared to individuals who were satisfied with their own body, those not satisfied had increased risk for suicidal ideation (adjusted relative risk ratio(aRRR) = 1.31, 95% CI:1.23-1.39) and suicide attempts (aRRR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.53-2.07). Associations were similar for boys and girls. Corresponding aRRR estimates of suicide ideation and attempt were found for both those with a desire of being bigger and smaller, respectively. Higher levels of dissatisfaction were associated with higher risk of suicide ideation and -attempt. Using individuals reporting body satisfaction and normal-range BMI as the reference, the risk of suicide attempt was increased in individuals reporting BD and normal BMI (RRR = 1.82, 95% CI:1.52-2.18) or high BMI (RRR = 1.88, 95% CI: 1.48-2.40), respectively.

BD in early adolescence, irrespectively of a wish to be bigger or smaller or level of dissatisfaction, was associated with elevated risks of suicidality, highlighting the need for targeted interventions at this critical developmental stage.