Weight‐based teasing in youth: Associations with metabolic and inflammatory markers. Issue 3 (15th October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Schvey, Natasha A.; Shank, Lisa M.; Tanofsky‐Kraff, Marian; Ramirez, Sophie; Altman, Deborah R.; Swanson, Taylor; Rubin, Alex G.; Kelly, Nichole R.; LeMay‐Russell, Sarah; Byrne, Meghan E.; Parker, Megan N.; Broadney, Miranda M.; Brady, Sheila M.; Yanovski, Susan Z.; Yanovski, Jack A.
• Is Part Of: Pediatric obesity. Volume 16:Issue 3(2021)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2020-10-15
• Subjects: adolescents -- children -- inflammation -- metabolic syndrome -- weight‐based teasing; Obesity in children -- Periodicals; Obesity in adolescence -- Periodicals; Obesity -- Periodicals; Overweight children -- Periodicals; 618.92398
• DOI: 10.1111/ijpo.12729
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1747-7174

Abstract

Summary: Background: Research among adults suggests that weight stigma is associated with worsened cardiometabolic health. However, these relationships have not been examined among youth. Objective: Assess associations between weight‐based teasing (WBT) and metabolic and inflammatory markers among two samples of youth: (1) a non‐treatment‐seeking sample and (2) a weight loss treatment‐seeking sample with obesity. Method: Weight, height, adiposity, waist circumference and blood pressure were measured. Fasting blood samples were collected for metabolic (triglycerides, glucose, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol) and inflammatory analytes (high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein in Study 1 and erythrocyte sedimentation rate in both studies). Youths completed the Perception of Teasing Scale, a measure of WBT. Metabolic and inflammatory indices were compared between those with and without teasing, adjusting for demographics and body composition. Results: Study 1 enrolled 201 non‐treatment‐seeking youth ( M age = 13.1y; 54.2% female; 44.8% non‐Hispanic White; 32.8% with overweight/obesity); 15.4% reported WBT. Study 2 enrolled 111 treatment‐seeking adolescents with obesity ( M age = 14.0y; 66.7% female; 37.8% non‐Hispanic White); 73.0% reported WBT. Adjusting for covariates, WBT was not associated with cardiometabolic risk factors in either study. Conclusions: WBT was not associated with worsened cardiometabolic health. Longitudinal research is needed to elucidate associations between WBT and health in youth.