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Children with obesity: peer influence as a predictor of body dissatisfaction

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Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To analyze self-esteem, as well as the different peer influence components (messages, interactions and likability) as predictors of body dissatisfaction in children with obesity.

Method

A total of 123 children aged between 10 and 12 years were divided into two groups according to their body mass index. The group with obesity was comprised of 36 boys and 21 girls and the group with normal weight of 32 boys and 34 girls. All of the participants answered the Body Shape Questionnaire—16, the Inventory of Peer Influence on Eating Concerns, and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale.

Results

The hierarchical multiple regression analysis for each group showed that likability and peer messages explain 67% of the body dissatisfaction variance in children with obesity and 54% in children with normal weight.

Conclusion

Peer influence predicted body dissatisfaction in children; however, children with obesity assimilate messages from their peers differently compared with children with normal weight.

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Acknowledgements

Funding: PAPIIT IA303616.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Eating Disorders Laboratory, División de Investigación y Posgrado, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), FES-Iztacala, Av. de los Barrios #1, Los Reyes Iztacala, C.P. 54090, Tlalnepantla, Mexico

    Adriana Amaya-Hernández, Mayaro Ortega-Luyando, María Leticia Bautista-Díaz, Georgina L. Alvarez-Rayón & Juan Manuel Mancilla-Díaz

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  1. Adriana Amaya-Hernández
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  2. Mayaro Ortega-Luyando
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  3. María Leticia Bautista-Díaz
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  5. Juan Manuel Mancilla-Díaz
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Adriana Amaya-Hernández.

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On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

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The authors state that the procedures followed were according to the research ethics committee regulations. The protocols of our institution were followed to access participants data and such information was analyzed with the sole purpose of carrying out and disseminate scientific research findings.

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All of the participants were informed of the purposes of the research and all of them signed the informed consent form.

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Amaya-Hernández, A., Ortega-Luyando, M., Bautista-Díaz, M.L. et al. Children with obesity: peer influence as a predictor of body dissatisfaction. Eat Weight Disord 24, 121–127 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-017-0374-0

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