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

Natasha A. Schvey; Lisa M. Shank; Marian Tanofsky-Kraff; Sophie Ramirez; Deborah R. Altman; Taylor Swanson; Alex G. Rubin; Nichole R. Kelly; Sarah LeMay-Russell; Meghan E. Byrne; Megan N. Parker; Miranda M. Broadney; Sheila M. Brady; Susan Z. Yanovski; Jack A. Yanovski

doi:10.1111/ijpo.12729

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

Natasha A. Schvey^*, Lisa M. Shank, Marian Tanofsky-Kraff, Sophie Ramirez, Deborah R. Altman, Taylor Swanson, Alex G. Rubin, Nichole R. Kelly, Sarah LeMay-Russell, Meghan E. Byrne, Megan N. Parker, Miranda M. Broadney, Sheila M. Brady, Susan Z. Yanovski, Jack A. Yanovski

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

3 Scopus citations

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 (M_age = 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 (M_age = 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.

Original language	English
Article number	e12729
Journal	Pediatric Obesity
Volume	16
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/ijpo.12729
State	Published - Mar 2021
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

adolescents
children
inflammation
metabolic syndrome
weight-based teasing

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10.1111/ijpo.12729

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Schvey, N. A., Shank, L. M., Tanofsky-Kraff, M., Ramirez, S., Altman, D. R., Swanson, T., Rubin, A. G., Kelly, N. R., LeMay-Russell, S., Byrne, M. E., Parker, M. N., Broadney, M. M., Brady, S. M., Yanovski, S. Z., & Yanovski, J. A. (2021). Weight-based teasing in youth: Associations with metabolic and inflammatory markers. Pediatric Obesity, 16(3), Article e12729. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijpo.12729

@article{5093ddc0680543249580e4271639bc39,

title = "Weight-based teasing in youth: Associations with metabolic and inflammatory markers",

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.",

keywords = "adolescents, children, inflammation, metabolic syndrome, weight-based teasing",

author = "Schvey, {Natasha A.} and Shank, {Lisa M.} and Marian Tanofsky-Kraff and Sophie Ramirez and Altman, {Deborah R.} and Taylor Swanson and Rubin, {Alex G.} and Kelly, {Nichole R.} and Sarah LeMay-Russell and Byrne, {Meghan E.} and Parker, {Megan N.} and Broadney, {Miranda M.} and Brady, {Sheila M.} and Yanovski, {Susan Z.} and Yanovski, {Jack A.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2020 World Obesity Federation",

year = "2021",

month = mar,

doi = "10.1111/ijpo.12729",

language = "English",

volume = "16",

journal = "Pediatric Obesity",

issn = "2047-6302",

number = "3",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Weight-based teasing in youth

T2 - Associations with metabolic and inflammatory markers

AU - Schvey, Natasha A.

AU - Shank, Lisa M.

AU - Tanofsky-Kraff, Marian

AU - Ramirez, Sophie

AU - Altman, Deborah R.

AU - Swanson, Taylor

AU - Rubin, Alex G.

AU - Kelly, Nichole R.

AU - LeMay-Russell, Sarah

AU - Byrne, Meghan E.

AU - Parker, Megan N.

AU - Broadney, Miranda M.

AU - Brady, Sheila M.

AU - Yanovski, Susan Z.

AU - Yanovski, Jack A.

PY - 2021/3

Y1 - 2021/3

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

KW - adolescents

KW - children

KW - inflammation

KW - metabolic syndrome

KW - weight-based teasing

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85092459830&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1111/ijpo.12729

DO - 10.1111/ijpo.12729

M3 - Article

C2 - 33059389

AN - SCOPUS:85092459830

SN - 2047-6302

VL - 16

JO - Pediatric Obesity

JF - Pediatric Obesity

IS - 3

M1 - e12729

ER -

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

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Keywords

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