Stigma, obesity and adolescent risk behaviors: current research and future directions. (October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Farhat, Tilda
• Is Part Of: Current opinion in psychology. Volume 5(2015)
• Page Start: 56
• Page End: 66
• Publication Date: 2015-10
• Subjects: Psychology -- Periodicals; 150.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2015.03.021
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2352-250X

Abstract

Highlights: Adolescents who are, or self-perceive as, overweight are vulnerable to risk-taking. Weight stigma may contribute to this association through poor body image and stress. Increased engagement in risk behaviors may be a stress-coping mechanism. Social networks moderate the associations between weight stigma and risk behaviors. Interventions to reduce weight-stigma may reduce engagement in risk behaviors. Abstract : Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to risk behaviors as, in this life stage, they are experiencing intense physical, psychological and social changes. Adolescents who are overweight/obese, but particularly those who perceive themselves as such, are more likely to engage in risk behaviors than those who are, or perceive, themselves of normal-weight. Weight stigma and discrimination may contribute to this association as they reinforce poor body image and create intense stress. Stress is associated with poor emotion regulation, more impulsive, contextually-determined, and less rational decision-making, leading to greater engagement in risk behaviors. However, pathways from weight stigma/discrimination to risk behavior may be moderated by adolescents' social networks. This review provides a conceptual model and empirical evidence to illustrate the proposed pathways from weight stigma and discrimination to risk behaviors. Public health implications and future research directions are also discussed.