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  • Abstract Background Overweight and obesity in adolescence are associated with several negative health indicators; the association with flourishing, an indicator of overall well-being, is less clear. Objectives To examine associations between weight status and indicators of flourishing and academic engagement in adolescents. Subjects Analyses included 22,078 adolescents (10–17 years) from the 2016 National Survey of Children’s Health. Methods Adolescents were grouped according to body mass index (BMI) classification; outcomes included indicators of flourishing and academic engagement. Logistic regression models assessed the odds of each outcome comparing adolescents with overweight and adolescents with obesity to healthy weight adolescents. Results For flourishing, adolescents with overweight and adolescents with obesity were less likely to stay calm during a challenge (17% and 30%, respectively; p < 0.01); adolescents with obesity were 30% less likely to finish a task they started (p < 0.001), and 34% less likely to show interest in new things (p < 0.001) in comparison to healthy weight peers. Adolescents with obesity were 26% less likely to care about doing well in school (p < 0.001), and adolescents with overweight and adolescents with obesity were significantly less likely to complete all required homework (19% and 34%, respectively) (p < 0.001), in comparison to healthy weight peers. Conclusions A comprehensive approach to addressing overweight and obesity in adolescence should target improving academic engagement and flourishing to promote overall well-being.

  • Background The body positivity movement on social media is thought to foster body appreciation, but pervasive societal concern persists about the body positivity movement and the body image, health behaviors, and “normalization of obesity” of young adult women. Purpose This study explored the relationship between engagement in the body positivity movement on social media and weight status, body appreciation, body dissatisfaction, and the health behaviors of intuitive eating and physical activity in young adult women (18–35 years). Methods Participants (N = 521; ∼64% engaged in body positivity content on social media) were recruited using Qualtrics online panels for this cross-sectional survey during February 2021. Outcomes included weight status, weight consideration, weight perception, body appreciation, body dissatisfaction, physical activity, and intuitive eating. Logistic and linear regression models adjusted for age, race, ethnicity, education level, and household income were used to assess the association between engagement in the body positivity movement and specified outcomes. Results Engagement in body positivity content was associated with greater body dissatisfaction (β = 2.33, t(519) = 2.90 p = .017), body appreciation (β = 0.26, t(519) = 2.90 p = .004), and greater likelihood of reporting high amounts of physical activity (odds ratio = 2.28; p < .05) relative to nonengaged peers; these associations remained significant after further adjustment for weight status. Body positivity was not associated with weight status, weight perception, or intuitive eating. Conclusions Engagement in the body positivity movement is associated with higher body dissatisfaction and body appreciation in young adult women, which suggests they may be drawn to and engage in the body positivity movement as a protective or coping mechanism for body dissatisfaction.

  • Purpose: To explore associations between adolescent’s concern for their body weight/shape/size and engagement in unhealthy weight control behaviors (UWCBs). Design: Secondary data analysis. Setting: 2022 National Survey of Children’s Health. Subjects: Analyses included 23 357 (51.8% male) adolescents, ages 10-17 years (mean 13.8 ± 2.3 years). Measures: Reported concern for body weight/shape/size, and UWCBs including skipping meals/ fasting; low interest in food; picky eating; binge eating, purging; diet pills; and over-exercising. Analysis: Logistic regression models assessed the odds of engaging in UWCBs by reported concern for body weight/shape/size. Results: Engagement in UCWBs was low with 21.1% reporting picky eating, 13.5% fasting, 11.7% low interest in food, 5.3% binge eating, and <2% purging, over-exercising, or using diet pills. Compared to adolescents who were not at all concerned about their body weight/shape/size, adolescents who were somewhat or very much concerned had significantly higher odds (P’s < 0.05) of engaging in all UCWB outcomes except for using diet pills or laxatives, which was only significant for adolescents who reported being very concerned (OR = 12.74; CI: [19.16, 36.94]). Further, after stratification by gender and age, there was a significant p-for trend (P’s < 0.05), in engagement in UWCBs by concern for body weight/shape/size except for using diet pills or laxatives in 10-11- and 12-14-year-olds. Conclusion: Expressing concern for body weight/image/size is associated with an increased likelihood of engaging in UCWB in adolescents, regardless of gender or stage of adolescence. © The Author(s) 2025

Last update from database: 3/13/26, 4:15 PM (UTC)

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