title: Self-esteem, body shame and eating disorder risk in obese and normal weight adolescents: A mediation model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate dysfunctional eating behaviors and psychological variables typically associated to eating disturbances such as low self-esteem, perfectionism, shame, perceived parental care and protectiveness in obese and normal weight adolescents and to examine how the main powerful eating disorder risk factors interact with each other which explains eating psychopathology vulnerability.
  
  
  METHODS
  111 high school students (68 males; age range 13-19years) classified as obese and 111 age-, sex- and social status-homogeneous normal weight controls were included in the current study. All participants were asked to fill out self-report measures of parental behavior as perceived by the offspring, eating disturbance attitudes and behaviors, self-esteem, perfectionism and shame.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant differences between the two groups in relation to dysfunctional eating behaviors emerged. Body shame had the strongest relationship to eating problems vulnerability and acted as a mediator in the relationship between low self-esteem and eating disorder risk among both obese and non-obese youngsters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings further our understanding of a potential underlying mechanism for eating pathology development in youngsters in general and in obese adolescents in particular, which is of great importance in terms of prevention and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Observatory on eating disorders, Department of Psychology, Second University of Naples, Viale Ellittico, 31, 81100, Caserta, Italy. Electronic address: mara.iannaccone@unina2.it.
authors.forename: Mara
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iannaccone
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Second University of Naples, Viale Ellittico, 31, 81100 Caserta, Italy. Electronic address: francesca.dolimpio@unina2.it.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: D'Olimpio
authors.affiliation: Observatory on eating disorders, Department of Psychology, Second University of Naples, Viale Ellittico, 31, 81100, Caserta, Italy. Electronic address: stefania.cella@unina2.it.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cella
authors.affiliation: Observatory on eating disorders, Department of Psychology, Second University of Naples, Viale Ellittico, 31, 81100, Caserta, Italy. Electronic address: paolo.cotrufo@unina2.it.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cotrufo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017008:Negotiating / Q000523:psychology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D012752:Shame; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Body shame; Eating disorders; Obesity; Parental bonding; Perfectionism; Self-esteem