Effects of objective and perceived weight on suicidal ideation among adolescents: Findings from the 2015–2021 national Youth Risk Behavior Survey

Abstract

This study examined the association between perceived weight, actual weight, and suicidal ideation among adolescents. Data for this study were obtained from a nationally representative sample from the Youth Behavior Risk Survey (YRBS) between 2015 and 2021. A total of n = 61,298 adolescents ages 12 to 18 were included in the final analytic sample. A series of logistic regressions was conducted to examine perceived weight, BMI, and suicidal ideation, while adjusting for other demographic and control variables. Approximately one in five adolescents reported suicidal ideation. In the multivariable analyses, adolescents who perceived themselves as overweight and had BMI ≥ 85th percentile had 1.48 times higher odds of reporting suicidal ideation (95 % CI=1.35–1.62) and adolescents who perceived themselves as overweight but had BMI <85th percentile had 1.47 times higher odds of experiencing suicidal ideation than their peers who did not perceive themselves as overweight and had BMI <85th percentile. The findings from this study suggest that both perceived and actual BMI may be associated with suicidal ideation among adolescents. Future research could examine differences in perceived and actual BMI and identify potential interventions to proactively address mental health issues that may stem from stigma related to being overweight or obese.