THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WEIGHT AND PSYCHOLOGICAL FUNCTIONING AMONG ADOLESCENT GIRLS

This study investigated whether Body Mass Index (BMI) was associated w ith various aspects of psychological functioning in a sample of largel y Caucasian adolescent girls. Three hundred sixty-five adolescent girl s ranging from ages 14 through 19 were assessed for general psychologi cal functioning utilizing the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), and functioning specific to eating, shape and weight utilizing the Ea ting Disorders Inventory (EDI). Excess weight was associated with high er scores on the Bulimia, Body Dissatisfaction and Drive for Thinness subscales of the EDI. Excess weight was not, however, associated with general psychopathology or any of the subscales of the SCL-90-R. The r esults suggest that excess weight may carry risk for pathology specifi cally related to eating, shape and weight in adolescent girls, but not for general forms of psychopathology.