Weight satisfaction and self-esteem among teenagers in Helsinki, Moscow and Tallinn.
OBJECTIVE
Information on weight satisfaction in Eastern Europe is limited. This study compares relative weight, weight satisfaction and self-esteem of teenagers living in two post-Soviet capitals, Moscow and Tallinn, and a western capital Helsinki.


METHODS
Classroom surveys including data about weight and height, weight satisfaction and self-4 esteem among 15-18-year-old girls (n = 911) and boys (n = 650) collected in 1994-95.


RESULTS
Body mass index and self-esteem were highest in Helsinki. Nevertheless, feelings of over-weight were most common among Tallinn girls and feelings of over- and underweight among Muscovite girls. Boys were mostly satisfied with their current weight with no differences between cities. Low self-esteem was associated with feelings of overweight among girls and underweight among boys.


CONCLUSIONS
Somewhat unexpectedly, girls grown in non-western cultures were more dissatisfied with their weight than girls in Helsinki. These findings may partly be attributable to rapid economic and cultural transformations that were occurring in these countries during the study period.
Sarlio-Lähteenkorva
S
S
Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Finland. sirpa.sarlio-lahteenkorva@helsinki.fi
Pärna
K
K
Palosuo
H
H
Zhuravleva
I
I
Mussalo-Rauhamaa
H
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D004957:Estonia; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012426:Russia; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors