Obesity, Dieting, and Body Satisfaction (page 2)

When the intake of calories exceeds total energy expenditure, weight gain results. Excessive weight gain can lead to obesity, which is defined as weighing more than 20% over one’s ideal weight based on height, sex, and body composition. Several decades ago, a section on obesity, dieting, and body image would probably not have been included in textbooks—most certainly not in a section describing the development of school-age children. Unfortunately, the prevalence of obesity among young children has increased significantly in recent years (Heinberg, Thompson, & Mateson, 2001). Approximately 25% of children and adolescents are obese or at risk of becoming obese (Troiano & Flegal, 1998). The prevalence rates are higher for Blacks and Hispanics than they are for Whites and Asians and are inextricably tied to socioeconomic status. The origins of obesity have been traced to genetics, sedentary lifestyles, increased television viewing, and high-fat diets as well as socioeconomic status (Beunen et al., 1998; Drewnowski, 2004).

Obesity has a strong developmental component, with obesity in childhood predictive of obesity later in life. Both physical and psychological consequences may result from being overweight or obese. Children who are obese are at risk for hypertension, respiratory disease, type 2 diabetes, and orthopedic disorders (Hill & Pomeroy, 2001). Heavier weight has also been associated with lower self-esteem and exclusion from peer groups (Miller & Downey, 1999). Psychosocial problems may include persistent teasing, which may produce body-image problems and eating disturbances (Gardner, Stark, Friedman, & Jackson, 2000; Heinberg, 1996).

The most overweight children in the program often are not included in group games and are the target of teasing.

Obesity may also increase body dissatisfaction. For example, researchers surveyed 8- to 10-year-olds and found that 55% of the girls and 35% of the boys were dissatisfied with their size (Wood, Becker, & Thompson, 1996). Girls typically want to be thinner, while boys desire to be larger and more muscular (Smolak, Levine, & Thompson, 2001). In addition, European American girls generally have greater body dissatisfaction than African American girls. Body dissatisfaction can lead school-age children (and adolescents) to engage in caloric-reducing behavior such as dieting or hyperexercise.