PubMed ID:
7992678
Public Release Type:
Journal
Publication Year: 1994
Affiliation: Yale Psychiatric Institute, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1016/0306-4603(94)90066-3
Authors:
Brownell KD,
Grilo CM,
Rodin J,
Wilfley DE
Studies:
Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery
This study examined the relationship of physical-appearance-related teasing history to body image and self-esteem in a clinical sample of adult obese females. The frequency of being teased about weight and size while growing up was negatively correlated with evaluation of one's appearance and positively correlated with body dissatisfaction during adulthood. Self-esteem was unrelated to teasing history but covaried significantly with body image measures. Subjects with early-onset obesity reported greater body dissatisfaction than did subjects with adult-onset obesity. The findings suggest that being teased about weight/size while growing up may represent a risk factor for the development of negative body image and that self-esteem and body image covary.