Preteens who are overweight are often bullied or excluded from social activities, increasing their likelihood of anxiety and emotional problems, researchers say.
Efforts to prevent or ease emotional distress among overweight students must address these negative and discriminatory behaviors, according to the authors of a new study.
"The widespread misconception is that anyone who is heavy is likely to feel distressed because of their weight, yet our findings suggest that demeaning peer responses to weight is the primary social factor underlying these emotional problems," said study lead author Jaana Juvonen. She is a professor of developmental psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles.
"These emotional issues can develop just as a teen is entering middle school, which is already a very difficult and emotional transition for many adolescents," Juvonen added.
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