Jun 25 2008
Overweight Vs. Average Weight Teens: Who Has a Better Life?
In a study conducted in
Germany, adolescents were weighed and questions about their perceptions relating to their weight and their quality of life were asked.
It’s probably no surprise to mothers of teen girls that they feel a lot of pressure to look a certain way. We hear a lot in the news and tabloids about celebs who are super-slim, who lose weight incredibly fast (even after pregnancy!), and usually without much documented struggle.
In the German study (PDF), 6669 youth, ages 11-17 were measured for height and weight. Of the youth surveyed, approximately 17% fit the criteria for being overweight.
However, when you look at perceptions, 55% of teen girls in the study thought they were overweight. Almost as shocking, 36% of teen boys thought they were overweight.
What’s more interesting is that these perceptions might have more to do with whether teens feel they have a good quality of life than the reality. Which means, if a teen girl of average height and weight BELIEVES she is overweight and BELIEVES this has an impact on her quality of life, she will feel less “good” about her life.
Whereas, a teen girl who is actually overweight and who may believe it doesn’t have an effect on her quality of life, may have a better feeling about her life.
Same goes for boys.
Lest you think this is only true for German youth, similar studies have been done in the U.S. and
Australia with similar results.
So, Moms and Dads, if you ever needed a good reason to help encourage positive self image in your teens, this is it.
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