Weight-Related Teasing in a Racially Diverse Sample of Sixth-Grade Children

Abstract Negative outcomes are associated with weight-based teasing. Among children, little research to date has explored the extent to which teasing occurs, the effects of teasing, or differences among sources of teasing. The purpose of this secondary data analysis was to assess the prevalence and...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the American Dietetic Association 2011-03, Vol.111 (3), p.431-436
Main Authors: McCormack, Lacey Arneson, MPH, RD, Laska, Melissa Nelson, PhD, RD, Gray, Clifton, PhD, Veblen-Mortenson, Sara, MPH, MSW, Barr-Anderson, Daheia, PhD, MSPH, Story, Mary, PhD, RD
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation, Psychological
Body Image
Body Weight - physiology
Bullying
Child
Child Behavior
Children & youth
Dietetics
Ethnic Groups
Family Relations - ethnology
Female
Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Humans
Internal Medicine
Male
Minority students
Obesity
Obesity - ethnology
Obesity - psychology
Overweight - ethnology
Overweight - psychology
Peer Group
Pilot Projects
Prejudice
Psychology, Child
Sex Factors
Socioeconomic Factors
Student behavior
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Summary:Abstract Negative outcomes are associated with weight-based teasing. Among children, little research to date has explored the extent to which teasing occurs, the effects of teasing, or differences among sources of teasing. The purpose of this secondary data analysis was to assess the prevalence and frequency of weight-related teasing by peers and families in a low-income, multiracial/ethnic sample of children; to determine how bothered children were by the teasing; to evaluate whether teasing varied by overweight status and sex; and to see whether body satisfaction varied based on teasing history. In 2007, baseline data were obtained from 148 children (aged 11 to 12 years) in a classroom intervention pilot study in four public schools serving low-income communities in St Paul, MN. Participants completed a classroom survey assessing body satisfaction and weight-related teasing. Height and weight were measured. Forty percent of children reported being teased by peers and 36% reported being teased by family members about their weight. Significantly more overweight/obese children reported being teased by peers ( P
ISSN:0002-8223
2212-2672
1878-3570
2212-2680
DOI:10.1016/j.jada.2010.11.021