Longitudinal associations among change in overweight status, fear of negative evaluation, and weight-related teasing among obese adolescents.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To examine longitudinal bidirectional associations between changes in adolescents' weight status and psychosocial constructs. METHOD: 118 obese adolescents aged 13-16 years participated in a behavioral weight control intervention. Percent overweight (OW), fear of negative evaluation (FNE), and frequency of weight-related teasing (WRT) were collected at baseline, end of intervention, and 12 and 24 months post-randomization. 3 multivariate latent change score models were estimated to examine longitudinal cross-lagged associations between (1) OW and FNE; (2) OW and WRT; and (3) FNE and WRT. RESULTS: Decreases in OW were prospectively associated with subsequent decreases in both FNE and WRT; however, changes in FNE and WRT were not prospectively associated with subsequent change in OW. Decreases in FNE were prospectively associated with subsequent decreases in WRT. CONCLUSION: Moderate weight loss in the context of a behavioral weight control intervention has positive long-term implications for obese adolescents' peer relations.