Teasing children about their weight can make them gain more

School can be difficult for overweight or obese children. They are often cruelly teased and intimidated. And this type of intimidation could have long-term consequences, according to a study published Thursday in the newspaper Pediatric obesity.

The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Health Sciences Health Services in Bethesda, Maryland, found that making fun of children for their weight is linked to weight gain Increased until adulthood – the more they gain in weight.

"There is this school of thought that says [weight-based] Teasing could have a motivating effect on young people, "says study author Natasha Schvey, badistant professor of medical and clinical psychology at the University of Uniform Services. This study shows that it's not just do not true but that teasing could increase weight gain over time. "

To evaluate the link between teasing and weight gain, the authors recruited 110 children and young adolescents (approximately 12 years old on average) who were overweight or both parents were overweight. Having overweight parents clbadifies children as likely to be overweight or obese later in life.

On their first visit, the children were asked to indicate if they had made fun of their size. Of the overweight participants, 62% said they were teased about their weight at least once, while 21% of single-size risk participants said they were teased.

The researchers followed these children for an average of 8.5 years, some up to 15 years.

Whether they were overweight at the beginning of the study or not, those who said they were often teased for their weight gained 33% more body weight on average and 91% more fat per year compared to to their untainted peers.

Schvey warns that the study was observational and could not directly determine the cause and effect. "But we can say that teasing based on weight was significantly related to weight gain over time," she says.

Other research has shown that the stigma badociated with overweight or obesity contributes substantially to negative health effects, including increased body dissatisfaction, which can lead to to unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as binge eating disorder.

Teasing can also lead to increased levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, that can stimulate appetite and increase the risk of depression and anxiety, two factors that contribute to eating disorders. . It can also keep children away from physical activities such as sports and gym clbades, where they risk being ridiculed for their size.

People with overweight or obesity bear a disproportionate burden of stigma and shame in the United States and elsewhere, says Stephen Pont, badociate professor of pediatrics at the Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin who works with patients suffering from overweight or obesity.

"In the Western world, weight shame is very common," he says. "Larger people are often mentioned in cartoons, TV shows, and commercials, and sometimes that means in a positive way, but when we talk to our patients, [they say] it makes them feel bad. "

Unlike many other studies, the new study aimed to determine whether being teased about their weight during the crucial period of childhood affects the weight of individuals over time and up to adulthood.

"I really think it's an area that needs more attention," says Rebecca Puhl, badistant director of the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at the University of Connecticut ( she previously taught at Schvey). "This contributes to poor health, the bottom line."

Puhl also notes that the finding that more than 60% of overweight children in the study were bullied shows how common this is among young people. "What [this] tells us that we need to do a better job of protecting teens from teasing based on weight, "she says.

For example, although most public schools in the United States have anti-bullying policies in place, many do not contain provisions against teasing or bullying based on weight.

The support of parents to take action against weight-based teasing is high: in another study by Puhl, at least 81% of parents approved school policies aimed at this type of bullying.

The study points out that not only peers, but also parents, teachers and even health care providers tease children about their weight. If these adult personalities really want to help children suffering from obesity or overweight, he should find ways to reduce the mockery – and teach them strategies to handle and transcend insults when they occur.

"Clinicians and pediatricians need to pay attention to this problem," says Puhl.

Susie Neilson is an intern at NPR's Science Desk. You can contact her at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter: @susieneilson.

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