title: Relationship of weight-based teasing and adolescents' psychological well-being and physical health.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To date, research has focused primarily on psychological correlates of weight-based teasing. In this study, we extended previous work by also examining physical health-related variables (eg, physical self-concept and physical fitness [PF]).
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants included 1419 middle school students (637 boys and 782 girls). Of these, 245 (17.3%) reported being teased about being overweight. Participants completed measures of self-esteem, depression, physical self-concept, physical activity (PA) self-efficacy, and self-report physical and sedentary activities. Participants also completed PF testing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After controlling for demographic characteristics, participants who were teased about being overweight had higher scores on depression and lower scores on self-esteem, physical self-concept, PA self-efficacy, and health-related measures of PF in comparison to participants who were not teased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study support previous research indicating relationships between teasing and low levels of psychological well-being, physical self-concept, and PA self-efficacy, and establishes one between weight-based teasing and different types of PF. Research is needed to determine the potential causal nature of the relationships between teasing and fitness and evidence-based interventions are needed to reduce weight-based teasing and its potential effects on health and well-being.
authors: Associate Professor, (cgreenl@uwm.edu), Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, PO Box 413, Milwaukee, WI 53201-0413.
authors: Christy
authors: C
authors: Greenleaf
authors: Trent A
authors: TA
authors: Petrie
authors: Scott B
authors: SB
authors: Martin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D058445:Bullying / Q000523:psychology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D010379:Peer Group; D012929:Psychological Distance; D012574:Schools / Q000458:organization & administration; D012649:Self Concept; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: depression; physical fitness; teasing; weight stigma