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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2021 Mar;16(3):e12729.
doi: 10.1111/ijpo.12729. Epub 2020 Oct 15.

Weight-based teasing in youth: Associations with metabolic and inflammatory markers

Natasha A Schvey #  1   2 , Lisa M Shank #  2   3   4 , Marian Tanofsky-Kraff  1   2   3 , Sophie Ramirez  2 , Deborah R Altman  2 , Taylor Swanson  2 , Alex G Rubin  2 , Nichole R Kelly  5 , Sarah LeMay-Russell  1   2 , Meghan E Byrne  1   2 , Megan N Parker  1   2 , Miranda M Broadney  2 , Sheila M Brady  2 , Susan Z Yanovski  2   6 , Jack A Yanovski  2
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Weight-based teasing in youth: Associations with metabolic and inflammatory markers

Natasha A Schvey et al. Pediatr Obes. 2021 Mar.

Abstract

Background: Research among adults suggests that weight stigma is associated with worsened cardiometabolic health. However, these relationships have not been examined among youth.

Objective: Assess associations between weight-based teasing (WBT) and metabolic and inflammatory markers among two samples of youth: (1) a non-treatment-seeking sample and (2) a weight loss treatment-seeking sample with obesity.

Method: Weight, height, adiposity, waist circumference and blood pressure were measured. Fasting blood samples were collected for metabolic (triglycerides, glucose, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) and inflammatory analytes (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in Study 1 and erythrocyte sedimentation rate in both studies). Youths completed the Perception of Teasing Scale, a measure of WBT. Metabolic and inflammatory indices were compared between those with and without teasing, adjusting for demographics and body composition.

Results: Study 1 enrolled 201 non-treatment-seeking youth (Mage = 13.1y; 54.2% female; 44.8% non-Hispanic White; 32.8% with overweight/obesity); 15.4% reported WBT. Study 2 enrolled 111 treatment-seeking adolescents with obesity (Mage = 14.0y; 66.7% female; 37.8% non-Hispanic White); 73.0% reported WBT. Adjusting for covariates, WBT was not associated with cardiometabolic risk factors in either study.

Conclusions: WBT was not associated with worsened cardiometabolic health. Longitudinal research is needed to elucidate associations between WBT and health in youth.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02390765 NCT00001723.

Keywords: adolescents; children; inflammation; metabolic syndrome; weight-based teasing.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Statement: None of the authors have any conflicts of interest to declare.

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