Teasing, body image, and self-esteem in a clinical sample of obese women.

This study examined the relationship of physical-appearance-related teasing history to body image and self-esteem in a clinical sample of adult obese females. The frequency of being teased about weight and size while growing up was negatively correlated with evaluation of one's appearance and positively correlated with body dissatisfaction during adulthood. Self-esteem was unrelated to teasing history but covaried significantly with body image measures. Subjects with early-onset obesity reported greater body dissatisfaction than did subjects with adult-onset obesity. The findings suggest that being teased about weight/size while growing up may represent a risk factor for the development of negative body image and that self-esteem and body image covary.

Duke Scholars

Author Kelly D. Brownell Sanford School of Public Policy