Weight Status, Body Image and Bullying among Adolescents in the Seychelles

Michael Wilson,Bharathi Viswanathan,Pascal Bovet,Valentin Rousson

doi:10.3390/ijerph10051763

Abstract

We investigated the relationship between being bullied and measured body weight and perceived body weight among adolescents of a middle-income sub Saharan African country. Our data originated from the Global School-based Health Survey, which targets adolescents aged 13–15 years. Student weights and heights were measured before administrating the questionnaire which included questions about personal data, health behaviors and being bullied. Standard criteria were used to assess thinness, overweight and obesity. Among 1,006 participants who had complete data, 16.5% (95%CI 13.3–20.2) reported being bullied ≥3 days during the past 30 days; 13.4% were thin, 16.8% were overweight and 7.6% were obese. Categories of actual weight and of perceived weight correlated only moderately (Spearman correlation coefficient 0.37 for boys and 0.57 for girls; p < 0.001). In univariate analysis, both actual obesity (OR 1.76; p = 0.051) and perception of high weight (OR 1.63 for “slightly overweight”; OR 2.74 for “very overweight”, both p < 0.05) were associated with being bullied. In multivariate analysis, ORs for categories of perceived overweight were virtually unchanged while ORs for actual overweight and obesity were substantially attenuated, suggesting a substantial role of perceived weight in the association with being bullied. Actual underweight and perceived thinness also tended to be associated with being bullied, although not significantly. Our findings suggest that more research attention be given to disentangling the significant association between body image, overweight and bullying among adolescents. Further studies in diverse populations are warranted.

Highlights

Overweight and bullying have risen to become important public health concerns among adolescent populations worldwide, as have the associated social and psychological issues [1]
Adolescents who are overweight are at increased risk of developing various health complications such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease which has effects which can last into adulthood [5]
Previous studies showed that the prevalence of the combined category of overweight and obesity increased from 10.2% to 16.1% between the years 1998 and 2004 [13,14]

Summary

Introduction

Overweight and bullying have risen to become important public health concerns among adolescent populations worldwide, as have the associated social and psychological issues [1]. The stages of adolescence are characterized by numerous hormonal and physiological transformations in the pathway from child to adult. During these processes, bodily appearances can become important components of individual self-esteem, psychological health and willingness to fully take part in social activities [6]. Regardless of setting or culture, adolescents whose body types differ from socially prescribed norms sometimes fall victim to bullying behaviors from peers who tease or mock them in pointing out physical differences [9]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion