Middle School Studentsʼ Stereotypes, Body Image Attitudes, And Behavioral Intentions Toward Thin And Fat Peers

Abstract

PURPOSE The purpose of the study was to determine middle school students' obesity stereotypes, antifat attitudes, and behavioral intentions. METHODS Students (176 boys, 141 girls) ranged from 11 to 16 years of age (M = 13.18, SD = .98). Of the 317 students, 37% were Caucasian (70 males, 47 females), 52% were Hispanic (88 boys, 76 girls), and 11% were African-American (18 males, 18 females). The Fat Stereotypes Questionnaire (FSQ; Davison & Birch, 2004) was used to assess perceived reasons children and adolescents are fat or obese. Body shape attitudes were investigated by presenting the students a thin or fat silhouette with a series of verbal descriptors (e.g., “Has many friends” versus “Has no friends”) using a visual analog scale format (Hill & Silver, 1995). Finally, the Shared Activity Questionnaire (SAQ; Bell & Morgan, 2000) was used to examine behavioral intentions. RESULTS Fourteen percent of Caucasian, 18% of Hispanic, and 17% of African-American middle school students self-reported being overweight or obese. The top reasons students believed children and adolescents are fat or obese were: (a) they eat too many calories (73%); (b) their parents let them eat junk food (69%); (c) they are lazy, couch potatoes (64%); and (d) they have access to machine dispensed junk food (63%). Overall, students reported negative responses for the fat silhouettes on the dimensions of Sport Ability, Health, and Body Image. Results related to attitudes toward fat or thin silhouettes indicated that Caucasian and Hispanic students had more positive responses toward the thin figures and more negative responses toward the fat figures (for Health, Sport Ability, Body Image, Flexibility, Academics, and Confidence) than African-American students. Results related to intentions to participate in activities with a thin versus fat person indicated that boys were less willing to spend time socially, academically, or recreationally with a person considered fat than girls (P <.001). Race/ethnicity differences were also observed for the willingness to share activities with a thin versus fat person; Caucasian and Hispanic students were less willing (P <.024) to spend time socially, academically, or recreationally with a person considered fat than were African-American students. CONCLUSIONS Antifat attitudes and behavioral intentions are developed in adolescence. Furthermore, perceptions of body image and attitudes are influenced by gender and ethnicity. Developmentally and culturally appropriate interventions administered through early adolescent health programs are needed to encourage healthy perceptions regarding overweight and obesity in youth.