A poor body image may be just as bad for teens as unhealthy eating: a new study shows that young people who think they're overweight have a greater risk of being obese as adults, the Daily Mail reported on Wednesday.
A skewed body image has long been a warning sign of eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia. Those that falsely think they are overweight are likely to start using diet pills or vomiting to lose weight, which could lead to more long-term gain in turn.
Research also suggests that these people may be unable to take necessary steps to maintain a healthy weight. Boys, instead of girls, were more at risk.
Young men and boys who thought they were overweight were 89 percent more likely to be obese in adulthood than those that saw themselves accurately.
"Our research shows that psychological factors are important in the development of obesity," said study author Angelina Sutin, a psychological scientist at Florida State University. "Misperception is typically taken as a sign of an eating disorder, such as anorexia or bulimia, but our research shows that it may also signal a long-term risk of obesity."
Sutin surveyed 6,523 people starting at 16 and then caught back up with them again when they were 28. Those who had seen themselves as carrying around extra weight had a greater risk of being overweight when they were 28, the Huffington Post reported.
Parents can try to instill healthy body image with education and open and honest conversations about puberty, positive self-care and media representation.
