SELF-ESTEEM AND CHANGE IN BODY-MASS INDEX OVER 3 YEARS IN A COHORT OFADOLESCENTS

Self-esteem has been hypothesized to be lower in obese adolescents rel ative to their normal weight peers and to be an important factor in pr eventing or reversing obesity. The present study examined the relation ship between obesity and self-esteem cross-sectionally and prospective ly over three years in a cohort of 1278 adolescents in grades 7 to 9 a t baseline. Cross-sectional analyses revealed an inverse association b etween physical appearance self-esteem and body mass index in both mal es and females. In females, body mass index was inversely associated w ith global self-esteem, close friendship, and behavioral conduct self- esteem. In males, body mass index was inversely associated with athlet ic and romantic appeal self-esteem. Prospectively, in females, physica l appearance and social acceptance self-esteem at baseline were invers ely related to body mass index three years later. Baseline self-esteem was unrelated prospectively to change in body mass index in males, Al l associations were modest in magnitude. These results suggest that in a middle class white sample of adolescents, self-esteem specific to p hysical appearance is modestly associated with body mass index. Low se lf-esteem does not appear to predict the development of obesity over t ime.