BACKGROUND: The study investigated associations between childhood history of being negatively teased (i.e., being made fun of) about weight with psychiatric history, weight and eating concerns, and psychological functioning in 174 bariatric surgery candidates. METHODS: Bariatric surgery candidates participating in a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation completed a structured diagnostic interview, a psychosocial history interview, and a battery of established self-report measures assessing broad aspects of functioning. Patients who reported a history of being teased during childhood about weight were compared with those who denied having been teased in demographic features, obesity history, dietary and eating patterns and psychological functioning. RESULTS: Of the study group, 88 participants (50.6%) reported a weight-based childhood teasing history and 86 (49.4%) denied such a history. Teasing was not significantly associated with demographic features or current obesity level. As expected, analyses revealed that teasing was associated with younger age of onset of both obesity and dieting. Teasing was significantly associated neither with the frequency of lifetime psychiatric disorders, including eating disorder diagnoses, nor with binge eating. Analyses of covariance controlling for childhood onset of obesity, however, revealed that teasing history was associated with significantly higher current levels of weight and shape concerns, depression, body dissatisfaction, and shame, and with lower levels of self-esteem. CONCLUSION: Health-care providers should recognize the importance of a history of having been teased or made fun of about weight in bariatric surgery candidates. Although the prognostic significance of a history of such negative teasing for bariatric surgery outcomes is unknown, our findings suggest that such experiences are prevalent in this patient group and are associated with negative sequelae.
BACKGROUND: The study investigated associations between childhood history of being negatively teased (i.e., being made fun of) about weight with psychiatric history, weight and eating concerns, and psychological functioning in 174 bariatric surgery candidates. METHODS: Bariatric surgery candidates participating in a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation completed a structured diagnostic interview, a psychosocial history interview, and a battery of established self-report measures assessing broad aspects of functioning. Patients who reported a history of being teased during childhood about weight were compared with those who denied having been teased in demographic features, obesity history, dietary and eating patterns and psychological functioning. RESULTS: Of the study group, 88 participants (50.6%) reported a weight-based childhood teasing history and 86 (49.4%) denied such a history. Teasing was not significantly associated with demographic features or current obesity level. As expected, analyses revealed that teasing was associated with younger age of onset of both obesity and dieting. Teasing was significantly associated neither with the frequency of lifetime psychiatric disorders, including eating disorder diagnoses, nor with binge eating. Analyses of covariance controlling for childhood onset of obesity, however, revealed that teasing history was associated with significantly higher current levels of weight and shape concerns, depression, body dissatisfaction, and shame, and with lower levels of self-esteem. CONCLUSION: Health-care providers should recognize the importance of a history of having been teased or made fun of about weight in bariatric surgery candidates. Although the prognostic significance of a history of such negative teasing for bariatric surgery outcomes is unknown, our findings suggest that such experiences are prevalent in this patient group and are associated with negative sequelae.
Authors: C Barr Taylor; Susan Bryson; Angela A Celio Doyle; Kristine H Luce; Darby Cunning; Liana B Abascal; Roxanne Rockwell; Alison E Field; Ruth Striegel-Moore; Andrew J Winzelberg; Denise E Wilfley Journal: Pediatrics Date: 2006-08 Impact factor: 7.124
Authors: Carlos M Grilo; Maria E Pagano; Andrew E Skodol; Charles A Sanislow; Thomas H McGlashan; John G Gunderson; Robert L Stout Journal: J Clin Psychiatry Date: 2007-05 Impact factor: 4.384
Authors: Katie A Loth; Richard F MacLehose; Jayne A Fulkerson; Scott Crow; Dianne Neumark-Sztainer Journal: Int J Eat Disord Date: 2013-09-18 Impact factor: 4.861
Authors: Debra Haire-Joshu; Marilyn S Nanney; Michael Elliott; Cynthia Davey; Nicole Caito; Deborah Loman; Ross C Brownson; Matthew W Kreuter Journal: Obesity (Silver Spring) Date: 2010-02 Impact factor: 5.002
Authors: Jessica L Lawson; Leslie M Schuh; David B Creel; Rebecca M Blackinton; Stefanie A Giambrone; Carlos M Grilo; Valentina Ivezaj Journal: Obes Surg Date: 2021-04-17 Impact factor: 4.129
Authors: Tosca D Braun; Amy A Gorin; Rebecca M Puhl; Andrea Stone; Diane M Quinn; Jennifer Ferrand; Ana M Abrantes; Jessica Unick; Darren Tishler; Pavlos Papasavas Journal: Obes Surg Date: 2021-04-27 Impact factor: 3.479
Authors: Tosca D Braun; Diane M Quinn; Andrea Stone; Amy A Gorin; Jennifer Ferrand; Rebecca M Puhl; Jessica Sierra; Darren Tishler; Pavlos Papasavas Journal: Obesity (Silver Spring) Date: 2020-08-18 Impact factor: 5.002