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The problem with weighing: effects on mood, self-esteem and body image
Summary
Weighing individuals and comparing them to social norms can negatively impact self-esteem and mood, particularly for those categorized as overweight. This procedure may worsen psychological well-being rather than improve it.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Health Psychology
Background:
- Weight assessment and comparison to societal norms are common practices.
- These practices are often used in weight management and obesity treatment.
- The psychological impact of these procedures is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the psychological effects of weighing and social norm comparison.
- To examine impacts on self-esteem, mood, and body dissatisfaction.
Main Methods:
- Experimental design with 74 normal-weight participants.
- Measures of self-esteem, mood, and body dissatisfaction were taken before and after weighing.
- Participants were categorized into underweight, average weight, or overweight groups based on a fictional height-weight chart.
Main Results:
- The overweight group experienced increased depression and decreased self-esteem post-weighing.
- The average weight group showed improvements in self-esteem and mood.
- The underweight group reported decreased depression but also some self-esteem deterioration.
Conclusions:
- The common practice of weighing and comparing to weight norms may have detrimental psychological effects.
- This procedure could contribute to negative psychological states, challenging its perceived benign nature in weight management.