How many teenagers worry about their weight

Finally, we found that adolescents who were trying to lose weight or described themselves as overweight had greater symptoms of depression. For girls in particular, these symptoms have become more severe in Gen Z compared to prior generations.

Crucially though, none of the differences that we observed in this study were explained by higher BMI in the more recent cohorts. Our study adds to existing evidence that making weight loss the main focus of public health campaigns might create more harm than good by increasing mental health problems in teenagers. Public health campaigns aimed at reducing the prevalence of obesity often focus on calorie labelling and exercise as means to achieve or maintain a healthy weight.

Yet evidence suggests that dieting is ineffective for long-term weight loss. Obesity is also known to be influenced by a number of social determinants such as being from a socio-economically disadvantaged background. Framing weight loss as a personal responsibility, as it has been done so far, is therefore not only ineffective, but also dangerous.

Talk about how people are being portrayed. This gives you a chance to focus on character traits that are more important than outward appearances. You can remind your child of a time when they showed the same good character trait.

How they see themselves can affect every aspect of their lives — either negatively or positively. It affects their short- and long-term choices. It can impact their ability to meet people and make friends. It can prevent them from wanting to try new things or even seek higher education. These social consequences often last a lifetime.

There are health consequences, too. People with low self-esteem are more likely to be depressed and have anxiety. Experiencing and being treated for depression can cause weight gain, which makes low self-esteem even worse. Another common inappropriate way to cope is to develop an eating disorder. To some extent, being preoccupied with body image is normal, especially during the tween and teen years.

Continue to encourage your child and build his or her self-esteem during this time. If you begin to see your child withdraw from their friends or from activities, it could be a warning sign of a more serious response to low self-esteem and body image.

National Eating Disorders Association. Department of Health and Human Services, womenshealth. Last Updated: February 26, This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and to get more information on this subject.

Most boys experience puberty between the ages of 9 and Puberty is a time of changes—both physical and emotional. Your child will experience many changes…. Visit The Symptom Checker. Read More. Eustachian Tube Dysfunction. Fever in Infants and Children. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Teenagers: How to Stay Healthy. A focus on trying to be healthier and get to a healthier weight is important, but I worry about the methods.

Write to Jamie Ducharme at jamie. That May Be Reason for Concern. By Jamie Ducharme. Related Stories. Already a print subscriber?