Body Dissatisfaction, Weight Criticism, and Self-Reported Physical Activity in Preadolescent Children

Abstract

The dramatic increase in the prevalence of pediatric overweight and obesity underscores the importance of efforts to increase physical activity levels among children. However, research has demonstrated that negative social interactions (i.e. weight criticism, peer victimization) can lead to lower levels of physical activity. In this study a community sample of 376 5th and 6th grade students completed measures of physical activity, weight criticism during physical activity, and body dissatisfaction. Girls who reported experiencing high levels of weight criticism and high body dissatisfaction engaged in significantly fewer vigorous activities than peers who experienced criticism in the absence of body dissatisfaction. These findings highlight the important role of body dissatisfaction in girl's propensity to engage in physical activity and lend support to prevention efforts designed to reduce body dissatisfaction and weight criticism among girls.