Body-related bullying, desire to lose weight and negative health behaviours among young people in the United Kingdom: a secondary data analysis

Abstract

Background: There has been an increase in the prevalence of body dissatisfaction and a desire to lose weight among young people. This trend presents as a concern, particularly at a time of important developmental growth, as well as a period characterised by increasingly autonomous eating habits and other health behaviours. Similar to other countries, body-related (BR) bullying in the United Kingdom (UK) may significantly contribute to young people's desire to lose weight. Therefore, this paper examines the relationships between weight loss desire and a number of health behaviours, as well as BR bullying, among young people who wish to lose weight. Methods: Data were extracted from the 2017 Health-Related Behaviour Questionnaire. A total of 26,911 school-aged young people in Years 8 and 10 (11-16 year olds) were analysed across the UK. Results: Overall, 45.1% of young people expressed a desire to lose weight, with a prevalence rate of 24.7% recorded for those who experienced BR bullying. Young people wishing to lose weight were significantly more likely to skip meals (24.4% vs. 13.2%), smoke (17.3% vs. 13.2%) and consume alcohol (14.7% vs. 10.7%), as compared to those who were not losing weight (p<0.001). Unhealthy food intake was significantly higher in the weight loss-wishing cohort than for those with no desire to lose weight. No significant relationship occurred between weight loss desire and frequent physical activity, while the former was significantly associated with frequent sedentary behaviours (p=0.030). Young people wishing to lose weight, who were the subjected to bullying, were more likely to skip meals, smoke and drink alcohol than the non-bullied cohort (p<0.01). This was true of both males and females, with the exception of alcohol consumption, which manifested for females only. A significant relationship occurred between being bullied and frequent sedentary behaviour in males only (p<0.003). Conclusion: Young people wishing to lose weight are more likely to exhibit negative health behaviours than those who do not wish to lose weight. BR bullying was found to generate greater negative effects in the weight loss-wishing group. Physical and mental health weight management supports are required for young people.