title: Psychological well-being in adolescents with excess weight.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Self-esteem, perceived health, weight satisfaction, eating habits, physical activity, friendships, intimate relationships, smoking and substance use habits can be regarded as important correlates of psychological well-being in adolescence.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study aimed to determine whether problems in the above-mentioned elements of psychological well-being were more prevalent among mid-adolescent pupils with excess weight than among their healthy-weight peers.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study participants comprised 178 adolescents with excess weight and 1087 healthy-weight peers with a mean age of 14.7 years attending the 8th grade at secondary school. The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Eating Disorder Inventory and a questionnaire assessing health- and food-related attitudes and habits were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The adolescents with excess weight more often reported weight dissatisfaction, abnormal eating habits and signs of eating disorder pathology than those with healthy weight. No significant difference in self-esteem was observed between weight groups. The proportion of adolescents who were non-smokers, did not use alcohol and had one or more close friends did not differ between those with excess and healthy weight. However, a lower proportion of excess-weight adolescents had dating experience. Inadequate physical activity was highly prevalent among adolescents in both weight groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the high prevalence of eating pathology and weight dissatisfaction, most mid-adolescent pupils with excess weight expressed good psychological health. Targeted psychological interventions should be offered to some adolescents with overweight problems.
authors.affiliation: Mauno Mäkinen, M.D., Department of Psychiatry, Division of Adolescent Psychiatry, Helsinki University Central Hospital , PO Box 640, 00029 HUS, University of Helsinki, Helsinki , Finland.
authors.forename: Mauno
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mäkinen
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lindberg
authors.forename: Erkki
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Komulainen
authors.forename: Leena-Riitta
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Puukko-Viertomies
authors.forename: Veikko
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Aalberg
authors.forename: Mauri
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marttunen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D015995:Prevalence; D012574:Schools; D012649:Self Concept
keywords: Adolescents; Dating; Disordered eating; Excess weight; Psychological well-being; Self-esteem