Wura Jacobs1, Ashley L Merianos2, Matthew Lee Smith3, Laura Nabors2, Alane Fajayan4, Thomas W Valente5. 1. Department of Kinesiology, California State University Stanislaus, Turlock, California. Electronic address: wjacobs2@csustan.edu. 2. School of Human Services, College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio. 3. Center for Population Health and Aging, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas. 4. Department of Public Health, California State University, Fullerton, Fullerton, California. 5. Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Weight stigmatization during adolescence may compromise the development of social relations important for the development. This study examined the associations between weight status and likelihood of nomination (indegree) for five different social network types-friendship, romantic, admiration, succeed, and popularity. METHODS: Data for the study were from 1,110 tenth grade students (aged 11-19 years) from four high schools in one Los Angeles school district in 2010. Multiple Poisson regression analyses using generalized linear model were conducted to examine the relationship between weight status (underweight/normal weight/overweight measured with body mass index calculated from self-reported height and weight) and adolescents' indegree for the five different networks. RESULTS: Obese adolescents were significantly less likely to be nominated as romantic interest (odds ratio [OR]: .29, 95% confidence interval [CI]: .19-42), admired (OR: .80, 95% CI: .65-.97), or popular (OR: .71, 95% CI: .57-.88) compared with their normal weight peers. Overweight adolescents were also less likely to be nominated as a romantic interest (OR: .57, 95% CI: .42-.78) or popular (OR: .67, 95% CI: .53-.84) compared with those who were normal weight. Underweight adolescents were also less likely to be nominated as friends (OR: .76, 95% CI: .60-98), someone admired (OR: .61, 95% CI: .42-.89), likely to succeed (OR: .62, 95% CI: .44-.87), or popular (OR: .40, 95% CI: .25-.64). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest weight status is associated with being selected by peers into different types of adolescent networks. Underweight, overweight, and obese adolescents are at an increased risk for social isolation because of their weight. This may have a negative impact on their peer relations important for social development, self-esteem, and mental health.
PURPOSE: Weight stigmatization during adolescence may compromise the development of social relations important for the development. This study examined the associations between weight status and likelihood of nomination (indegree) for five different social network types-friendship, romantic, admiration, succeed, and popularity. METHODS: Data for the study were from 1,110 tenth grade students (aged 11-19 years) from four high schools in one Los Angeles school district in 2010. Multiple Poisson regression analyses using generalized linear model were conducted to examine the relationship between weight status (underweight/normal weight/overweight measured with body mass index calculated from self-reported height and weight) and adolescents' indegree for the five different networks. RESULTS:Obese adolescents were significantly less likely to be nominated as romantic interest (odds ratio [OR]: .29, 95% confidence interval [CI]: .19-42), admired (OR: .80, 95% CI: .65-.97), or popular (OR: .71, 95% CI: .57-.88) compared with their normal weight peers. Overweight adolescents were also less likely to be nominated as a romantic interest (OR: .57, 95% CI: .42-.78) or popular (OR: .67, 95% CI: .53-.84) compared with those who were normal weight. Underweight adolescents were also less likely to be nominated as friends (OR: .76, 95% CI: .60-98), someone admired (OR: .61, 95% CI: .42-.89), likely to succeed (OR: .62, 95% CI: .44-.87), or popular (OR: .40, 95% CI: .25-.64). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest weight status is associated with being selected by peers into different types of adolescent networks. Underweight, overweight, and obese adolescents are at an increased risk for social isolation because of their weight. This may have a negative impact on their peer relations important for social development, self-esteem, and mental health.
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