Teens Who Are Weight Conscious May Be More Susceptible To Self-Harm

Being concerned about their weight and how they look is a classic teen phase. They are over-conscious of how other people think about them or what they should do to look better is something teens do because this is the age they find to start building their personality. Many times, when they are figuring out things about themselves, their worldview is affected by different things like what are the trends and standards for looks according to media. We all know how unrealistic beauty standards can affect people and put them in a dark place, teens are no different, if not more affected by this. Already being so conscious of their bodies and the way they look makes them very sensitive to any comments or suggestions, otherwise, this can make them obsessed with the one thing they can change about themselves, their weight. A new study shows that teens who are conscious of their weight on an unhealthy level have a lot more chances in indulging in self-harm.

A new study shows that if teens think they're overweight, they're more likely to hurt themselves, even if they're actually a healthy weight. It's really important how teens see their bodies. This isn't just about kids being a little down on themselves. These are serious thoughts about hurting themselves, and it shows how much being worried about weight can affect a teen's mental health. It's a wake-up call to pay attention to how kids are feeling about their bodies, not just what the scale says.

What Teens Think Matters

The study, led by Philip Baiden from the University of Texas at Arlington found that teens who think they're too heavy are much more likely to have thoughts about suicide, even if they're not actually overweight. It's not just about what their weight is, but what they think it is that makes a difference. This means that even if a doctor says a teen is healthy, if they feel like they're overweight, it can be really bad for them. It's like their brain is playing tricks on them, and it's important to understand that these feelings are real and can be very dangerous. Researchers looked at information from over 39,000 teens. They looked at things like family, school, and if the teens had bad thoughts. They also looked at what the teens thought about their weight. They found that teens who thought they were overweight were three times more likely to think about suicide. This shows how strong the connection is between feeling overweight and having really dark thoughts. The researchers wanted to understand all the things that might be contributing to these thoughts, so they looked at lots of different parts of the teens' lives.

What Are Some Other Factors To Consider

The study also found that even when they looked at other problems, like bullying or feeling hopeless, teens who thought they were overweight still had more thoughts about suicide. It wasn't just about being bullied or feeling down, feeling overweight was a big problem all on its own. This is important because it means that even if a teen has other things going on, if they're also worried about their weight, it makes everything much harder. The study also found that girls were more likely than boys to think they were overweight. This might be because girls often feel more pressure to look a certain way.

It's important for parents, schools, and everyone to help teens feel good about themselves. Kids are constantly getting messages about what bodies should look like, and it can be really tough. We need to teach kids that everyone's body is different and that's okay. We need to help them understand that their worth isn't about their weight. If we help teens feel better about their bodies, they'll be less likely to have these bad thoughts. It's about creating a safe and supportive environment where kids feel accepted for who they are, inside and out.