Disordered eating behavior and body weight and shape relatives’ criticism in overweight and obese 15- to 19-year-old females

Abstract

This study evaluated the link between relatives' criticism of overweight or obese teenage girls' figure and body weight and their relationship with their mothers, fathers and siblings, affection, self-esteem, the internalization of the aesthetic body thin ideal, depressive symptoms and disordered eating behaviors (DEB). The sample comprised 2174 senior high school students aged 15 to 19. Teenagers criticized by their relatives showed higher DEB, without interaction between Body Mass Index (BMI) and DEB. The structural equations model showed DEB was primarily explained by the internalization of the body aesthetic thin ideal, family's criticism, BMI and depressive symptoms.