Adolescent girls who placed themselves low on the ladder of popularity were more likely to gain weight later in their teen years than girls who saw themselves as having higher social standing, Boston-area researchers say.
“We know that poor diet and exercise contribute to excess weight gain, but how girls feel about themselves, especially in relation to their peers, should be part of all prevention strategies,” Adina R. Lemeshow, of the Harvard School of Public Health, and author of the study, said in an interview.
Source: Boston.com
http://www.boston.com/news/health/blog/2008/01/adolescent_girl.html
I can't really consider this groundbreaking news, since in my years of youth ministry, I've seen this personally. It's not uncommon for girls with low self-image to resort to poor coping strategies, such as overeating. How adolescent girls feel about themselves is an issue that parents should keep a watch on. As an overarching strategy, parenting with AWE (affirmation, warmth and encouragement) goes a long way to helping kids develop a healthy self-image.
For more information on teen self-image and parenting with AWE, click on the titles below to view various articles:
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