Predictors of 10-year-olds' obesity stereotypes: A population-based study

Introduction. Limited research has been conducted on factors that may increase children's likelihood of developing negative attitudes or stereotypes about obesity. The aim of this study was to investigate predictors of children's obesity stereotypes. Methods and procedures. A nationally representative sample of 10-year-old children (N=3 000), and their parents were requested to respond to a questionnaire in 2005. Obesity stereotypes were assessed by asking children to attribute positive and negative adjectives to boy and girl silhouette figures with average, thin and obese body sizes. Children's body esteem was also assessed, as well as parents' belief in the controllability of body weight. Additional data were collected on parents' and children's current body size and socio-demographic variables. Results. The study included 1 383 parent and child pairs. Children assigned on average 3.9 (standard deviation, SD=3.5) more stereotypes to a boy figure with obesity and 3.7 (SD=3.4) more stereotypes to a girl figure with obesity than to thin and average figures. Predictors of obesity stereotypes were parental body size and parents' beliefs concerning controllability of weight. Children's body esteem was inversely associated with boy obesity stereotypes, while only boy's body esteem showed an inverse association with girl obesity stereotypes. Discussion. Obesity stereotyping was a more salient feature among 10-year-olds having leaner parents and/or parents holding stronger beliefs about personal control over body weight. Children's perception of own body size rather than actual body size seem to be important in forming obesity stereotypes.