Running head: OBESITY & VICTIMIZATION

Obesity & Victimization

Deirdre A Brady
University of Florida

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Obesity & Victimization

Nearly 13 million children and adolescents in the US are placed into the category of
obesity, which raises their chances of peer victimization along with other medical and
psychological consequences (Ogden, Carroll, Kit, & Flegal, 2014). Peer Victimization, also
known as peer bullying, includes physical (threatening and physical attacks, etc.), verbal
and/or psychological aggression (spreading rumors, name-calling, etc.) that is intended to hurt
another person (Kiriakidis, 2011).
One of the consequences of victimization is the compromising of a childs behavioral
functioning, which is the purpose or reason for specific behaviors (Gray, Kahhan, & Janicke,
2009). Being labeled in society as obese can change how someone is viewed in the workplace
and in their personal relationships, and can negatively impact self-esteem. Risk factors and
protective factors alter how victimization and obesity will affect a person psychologically.
Studies that are mentioned in this paper have found a bidirectional relationship between
childhood interpersonal violence, bullying, and obesity.
Although there are many programs implementing healthy lifestyles, American culture has
not taken its importance seriously. The rate of obesity in America has continued to rise in adults
and children, especially individuals of racial minorities and low-socioeconomic status.
Bullying & Victimization
The rate of bullying and victimization in the United States alone is enough justification to
find new intervention strategies. A study gathered from middle school students in Maryland
described the frequencies of student bullies, victims, and being bully-victims (individuals who
are bullies on account of their own victimization). 4,263 eligible students participated in the 90minute survey that was administered by two trained proctors in each homeroom. The confidential

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survey asked 116 questions about the students background, social environments, and problem
behaviors. Questions also included self-reported information about behavior management,
influences, social competence, adjustment, bonding, parental involvement and support, etc.
Overall, more than half of the students who reported being a bully also said that they were
victimized. Of those students 30.9% said they have been victimized three or more times in the
past year and 7.4% admitted to having bullied others three or more times in the past year (Haynie
et al, 2001). According to the data given in Maryland alone, bullying and victimization is a major
issue among middle school students. New information has been acquired to find the relationship
between obesity and victimization.
Risk Factors
Over the last twenty years, researchers have found that obesity and other life-threatening,
diet-related diseases are not just caused by lack of exercise, but are also associated with the
households education level and low-socioeconomic status (Centers for Disease Control, 2015).
Alwitt and Donley (1997) distinguished a neighborhood as poor if a zip code meets all of four
criteria: (1) poverty rate is in the highest 25 percent; (2) high school graduation rate is in the
bottom 25 percent; (3) labor force participation rate is in bottom 25 percent; and (4)
unemployment rate is in bottom 25 percent. Where people live affects what people eat. The
term food deserts is used to describe a community that lacks accessibility to grocery stores,
super markets, and food retail establishments (Adams, Ulrich, Coleman, 2010). These main
stores are important to the community because they provide fruits, vegetables, grains, and other
nutritious foods.
School lunch is considered another risk factor for developing obesity. One study that was
conducted in Michigan collected data from 1,000 students throughout the state. Their findings

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showed that students who ate school lunch regularly were 29% more likely to suffer from obesity
(Axe, n.d.). Another study performed by Schanzenbach (2009) indicated children who used the
free-reduced lunch program are significantly heavier than students who bag their lunches by the
end of first grade.
Common Sense Media (2015) released information about our childrens daily media use.
They stated that teenagers use entertainment media on an average of nine hours per day and
tweens (ages 8-12) use an average of six hours per day (Cohen, 2015). Low-income children
who have access to digital equipment are more likely to spend time on their devices than children
from wealthier families. Further research has found a direct correlation between snacking and
excessive media use. Chaput and his colleagues (2011) collected data from 22 healthy male
adolescents. The procedure required these young adults to snack while gaming for one hour.
Findings concluded that there is an increased food intake regardless of appetite. Thus, a child
who has access to media, resides in a low-income environment, and who has a poor diet is more
susceptible to the risks of obesity.
Young adults who were exposed to interpersonal violence in childhood and/or adolescent
years have been found to have a greater Body Mass Index (BMI) score than their peers who have
not been exposed to violence. Stensland and his colleagues (2015) studied 10,464 adolescents
(ages 12-20), who gave self-reported information about their experiences with interpersonal
violence, pubertal timing, socioeconomic, psychosocial, and lifestyle factors. They were also
given a clinical BMI test that measures body fat based on height and weight. It is likely that there
is a bidirectional relationship between interpersonal violence and obesity. There is still question
whether the stigma of obesity may contribute to bullying, which increases the chances of gaining
weight.

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A similar study performed by Mamun and his colleagues (2013) gathered information to
determine whether victims of bullying were more likely to reach obesity by the time of young
adulthood. Participants reported bullying information at 14 years and then received a physical
assessment when they reached 21 years. The data collected showed that the participants who
were occasionally/often bullied at school had a greater BMI score. Limitations on this study
can be placed on location, eating habits, and the biological makeup of each individual. This study
alone shows that there can be a relationship between obesity and bullying among some
individuals.
Protective Factors
In todays age, overweight and obesity risk factors currently outweigh protective factors.
Since 1980, childhood obesity rates have more than tripled (Fryar & Ogden, 2015). Individual,
school, and family intervention are important for mediating a healthy lifestyle among children
and adolescents. Action for Healthy Kids (http://www.kidspsych.org) is a non-profit organization
that provides information about getting involved in a healthy lifestyle. They also provide training
to school administration. Although programs promote living a healthy lifestyle, but American
culture is not willing to take advantage of these useful preventative measures.
Conclusion
Recall a time in middle school or high school when someone pointed out your physical
flaws (acne for example). In that moment, you may have felt like the class was staring at your
face. You more than likely assumed everyone thought you were ugly and non-hygienic. It
probably altered your body language by looking down at the ground while walking or avoiding
your crush. T.J. Scheff (1966) created the Original Labeling Theory that describes how identity
and behavior is influenced and determined by how people are classified in society. However, the

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Modified Labeling Theory explains that labeling can affect more than just a persons actions; it
can jeopardize life circumstances like employment opportunities, relationships, and self-esteem
(Aneshensel, Phelan, & Bierman, 2013). Individuals may begin to believe they are worthless and
lazy, and may suffer from feelings of shame and self-loathing as a resut (Mustillo, Budd, &
Hendrix, 2013). Note that labeling does not cause mental illness, it depends on each individuals
resilience and coping strategies.
One challenge children and adolescents face in todays age is being unable to escape
bullying. They are subject to receiving it at school and at home through social media. This type
of bullying that occurs through electronic communication is called cyberbullying. Statistics
show us that 61% of overweight adolescents received mean or embarrassing posts online and
59% receive mean texts, emails, or instant messages (Anderson, Bresnahan, & Musatics, 2014).
These individuals who are constantly feeling rejected by society suffer persistent stress that may
lead to mental illnesses, like depression and anxiety.
The negative impact obesity is having on society will continue if current interventions do
not evolve to meet the needs of all individuals. State governments alone can have an impact by
creating stricter regulations on school lunches and healthier snacks more accessible in the
classroom setting. Initial precautions have been ignored and if it continues, obesity could result
in a multi-generational effect along with other life-threatening medical conditions.

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