Psychological well-being in adolescents with excess weight

Abstract

BACKGROUND: 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. AIM: 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. METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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. CONCLUSIONS: 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.