Young and biased: Children's perceptions of overweight peers

Abstract

Purpose

This study examined whether the age, ethnicity, sex, and weight of children influenced weight-based biases.

Methods

Elementary school children (N = 367; boys = 177; M_age = 9.31 years) provided their perceptions of thin, average, and heavy target children. The age and ethnicity as well as the actual height and weight of each participant was also collected.

Results

Children rated heavier child targets more negatively than average or thin counterparts. Participant and target ethnicity did not moderate weight biases. Boys were more likely than girls to stigmatize overweight targets regardless of the target's sex. Girls were more likely to stigmatize overweight boys. Young children and those who were thinner were less biased than older and heavier children, but still rated heavier targets negatively.

Conclusion

The ubiquity of a negative weight bias, even in children, underscores the need for constructing plans in which to not only deal the health concerns associated with obesity but also develop strategies for children who might be physically and/or psychologically struggling with the biases associated with being overweight.