Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Associations between hurtful weight-related comments by family and significant other and the development of disordered eating behaviors in young adults

  • Published:
Journal of Behavioral Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Research has found that weight-teasing is associated with disordered eating in adolescents. This study expands on the existing research by examining associations between hurtful weight comments by family and a significant other and disordered eating in young adults. Data come from 1,902 young adults (mean age 25) who completed surveys in 1998, 2003 and 2009. Correlations were examined between receiving hurtful comments from family and significant others, and four disordered eating behaviors in young adulthood, adjusting for prior disordered eating and prior teasing. Disordered eating behaviors were common in young adulthood, and were associated with hearing hurtful weight-related comments from family members and a significant other, for both females and males. Disordered eating prevention activities, which include messages about the potential harm associated with hurtful weight-related comments, should be expanded to address young adults, and programs may want to target relationship partners.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Annis, N. M., Cash, T. F., & Hrabosky, J. I. (2004). Body image and psychosocial differences among stable average weight, currently overweight, and formerly overweight women: the role of stigmatizing experiences. Body Image, 1, 155–167.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Arnett, J. J. (2000). Emerging adulthood: A theory of development from the late teens through the twenties. American Psychologist, 55, 469–480.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Aubie, C. D., & Jarry, J. L. (2009). Weight-related teasing increases eating in binge eaters. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 28, 909–936.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bandura, A. (1986). Social foundations of thought and action: A social cognitive theory. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc.

  • Boynton Health Service. (2010). University of Minnesota. 2009 Health and Health Related Behaviors. Minnesota Postsecondary Students. College Student Health Survey Report. http://www.bhs.umn.edu/surveys/index.htm. Accessed October 2010.

  • Calogero, R. M., Herbozo, S., & Thompson, J. K. (2009). Complementary weightism: The potential costs of appearance-related commentary for women’s self-objectification. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 33, 120–132.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010). About BMI for Adults. Retrieved July, 2010, from http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/adult_bmi/index.html

  • Eisenberg, M. E., Berge, J., Fulkerson, J. A., & Neumark-Sztainer, D. (2011). Weight comments by family and significant others in young adulthood. Body Image, 8, 12–19.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Eisenberg, M. E., Neumark-Sztainer, D., Haines, J., & Wall, M. M. (2006). Weight-teasing and emotional well-being in adolescents: Longitudinal findings from Project EAT. Journal of Adolescent Health, 38, 675–683.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Eisenberg, M. E., Neumark-Sztainer, D., & Story, M. (2003). Associations of weight-based teasing and emotional well-being among adolescents. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 157, 733–738.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Field, A. E., Austin, S. B., Taylor, C. B., Malspeis, S., Rosner, B., Rockett, H. R., et al. (2003). Relation between dieting and weight change among preadolescents and adolescents. Pediatrics, 112, 900–906.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Graham, S., & Juvonen, J. (1998). Self-blame and peer victimization in middle school: An attributional analysis. Developmental Psychology, 34, 587e599.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haines, J., Neumark-Sztainer, D., Eisenberg, M. E., & Hannan, P. J. (2006). Weight-teasing and disordered eating behaviors in adolescents: Longitudinal findings from Project EAT (Eating Among Teens). Pediatrics, 117, e209–e215.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Haines, J., Neumark-Sztainer, D., Hannan, P. J., van den Berg, P., & Eisenberg, M. E. (2008). Longitudinal and secular trends in weight-related teasing during adolescence. Obesity, 16, S18–S23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Herbozo, S., & Thompson, J. K. (2006). Development and validation of the verbal commentary on physical appearance scale: Considering both positive and negative commentary. Body Image, 3, 335–344.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Katzman, D. K. (2005). Medical complications in adolescents with anorexia nervosa: A review of the literature. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 37, S52–S59.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kuczmarski, M. F., Kuczmarski, R. J., & Najjar, M. (2001). Effects of age on validity of self-reported height, weight, and body mass index: Findings from the third national health and nutrition examination survey, 1988–1994. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 101, 28–34.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ladd, G. W., & Kochenderfer-Ladd, B. (2002). Identifying victims of peer aggression from early to middle childhood: Analysis of cross-informant data for concordance, estimation of relational adjustment, prevalence of victimization, and characteristics of identified victims. Psychological Assessment, 14, 74–96.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Larson, N. I., Neumark-Sztainer, D., Story, M., van den Berg, P., & Hannan, P. J. (in press). Identifying correlates of young adults’ weight behavior: Survey development. American Journal of Health Behavior.

  • Laska, M. N., Pasch, K. E., Lust, K., Story, M., & Ehlinger, E. (2011). The differential prevalence of obesity and related behaviors in two- vs. four-year colleges. Obesity, 19, 453–456.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Little, R. J. A. (1986). Survey nonresponse adjustments for estimates of means. International Statistical Review, 54, 139–157.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Myers, A., & Rosen, J. C. (1999). Obesity stigmatization and coping: Relation to mental health symptoms, body image, and selfesteem. International Journal of Obesity, 23, 221–230.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nelson, M. C., Larson, N. I., Barr-Anderson, D., Neumark-Sztainer, D., & Story, M. (2009). Disparities in dietary intake, meal patterning, and home food environments among young adult nonstudents and 2- and 4-year college students. American Journal of Public Health, 99, 1216–1219.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Neumark-Sztainer, D., Croll, J., Story, M., Hannan, P. J., French, S., & Perry, C. (2002a). Ethnic/racial differences in weight-related concerns and behaviors among adolescent girls and boys: Findings from Project EAT. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 53, 963–974.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Neumark-Sztainer, D., Falkner, N., Story, M., Perry, C., Hannan, P. J., & Mulert, S. (2002b). Weight-teasing among adolescents: Correlations with weight status and disordered eating behaviors. International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders, 26, 123–131.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Neumark-Sztainer, D., Story, M., Hannan, P. J., & Croll, J. (2002c). Overweight status and eating patterns among adolescents: Where do youth stand in comparison to the Healthy People 2010 Objectives? American Journal of Public Health, 92, 844–851.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Neumark-Sztainer, D., Story, M., Perry, C., & Casey, M. A. (1999). Factors influencing food choices of adolescents: Findings from focus-group discussions with adolescents. Journal of American Dietetic Association, 99, 929–937.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Neumark-Sztainer, D., Wall, M., Eisenberg, M. E., Story, M., & Hannan, P. J. (2006a). Overweight status and weight control behaviors in adolescents: longitudinal and secular trends from 1999 to 2004. Preventive Medicine, 43, 52–59.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Neumark-Sztainer, D., Wall, M., Guo, J., Story, M., Haines, J., & Eisenberg, M. (2006b). Obesity, disordered eating, and eating disorders in a longitudinal study of adolescents: How do dieters fare 5 years later? Journal of American Dietetic Association, 106, 559–568.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Neumark-Sztainer, D., Wall, M., Larson, N. I., Eisenberg, M. E., & Loth, K. (2011). Disordered eating behaviors from adolescence to young adulthood: Findings from a 10-year longitudinal study. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 111, 1004–1011.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ousley, L., Cordero, E. D., & White, S. (2008). Fat talk among college students: How undergraduates communicate regarding food and body weight, shape & appearance. Eating Disorders, 16, 73–84.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Palta, M., Prineas, R. J., Berman, R., & Hannan, P. (1982). Comparison of self-reported and measured height and weight. American Journal of Epidemiology, 115, 223–230.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Patton, G. C., Selzer, R., Coffee, C., Carlin, J. B., & Wolfe, R. (1999). Onset of adolescent eating disorders: Population based cohort study over 3 years. BMJ., 318, 765–768.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Puhl, R. M., & Brownell, K. D. (2006). Confronting and coping with weight stigma: An investigation of overweight and obese adults. Obesity., 14, 1802–1815.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sheets, V., & Ajmere, K. (2005). Are romantic partners a source of college students’ weight concern? Eating Behaviors, 6, 1–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stewart, A. (1982). The reliability and validity of self-reported weight and height. Journal of Chronic Diseases, 35, 295–309.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stice, E., & Agras, W. S. (1998). Predicting onset and cessation of bulimic behaviors during adolescence: A longitudinal grouping analyses. Behavior Therapy., 29, 257–276.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stice, E., Cameron, R. P., Killen, J. D., Hayward, C., & Taylor, C. B. (1999). Naturalistic weight-reduction efforts prospectively predict growth in relative weight and onset of obesity among female adolescents. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 67, 967–974.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stice, E., Hayward, C., Cameron, R. P., Killen, J. D., & Taylor, C. B. (2000). Body-image and eating disturbances predict onset of depression among female adolescents: A longitudinal study. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 109, 438–444.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stice, E., Presnell, K., Shaw, H., & Rohde, P. (2005). Psychological and behavioral risk factors for obesity onset in adolescent girls: A prospective study. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 73, 195–202.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tantleff-Dunn, S., & Gokee, J. L. (2002). Interpersonal influences on body image development. In T. F. Cash & T. Pruzinsky (Eds.), Body image: A handbook of theory, research and clinical practice. New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, C. B., Bryson, S., Celio Doyle, A. A., Luce, K. H., Cunning, D., Abascal, L. B. …. & Wilfley, D. E. (2006). The adverse effect of negative comments about weight and shape from family and siblings on women at high risk for eating disorders. Pediatrics, 118, 731–738.

  • Tehard, B., van Liere, M. J., Com Nougue, C., & Clavel-Chapelon, F. (2002). Anthropometric measurements and body silhouette of women: Validity and perception. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 102, 1779–1784.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tortura, C. M. W., Green, A. E., Karver, M. S., & Gesten, E. L. (2009). Multiple informants in the assessment of psychological, behavioral, and academic correlates of bullying and victimization in middle school. Journal of Adolescence, 32, 193–211.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The project described was supported by Grant Number R01HL084064 from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute or the National Institutes of Health.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Adolescent Health and Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, 717 Delaware St SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55414, USA

    Marla E. Eisenberg

  2. Division of Epidemiology & Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Marla E. Eisenberg & Dianne Neumark-Sztainer

  3. Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Jerica M. Berge

  4. School of Nursing, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Jayne A. Fulkerson

Authors
  1. Marla E. Eisenberg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jerica M. Berge
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jayne A. Fulkerson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Dianne Neumark-Sztainer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marla E. Eisenberg.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Eisenberg, M.E., Berge, J.M., Fulkerson, J.A. et al. Associations between hurtful weight-related comments by family and significant other and the development of disordered eating behaviors in young adults. J Behav Med 35, 500–508 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-011-9378-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-011-9378-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation