An interesting article found on ABCNews.com discusses a study done by a former Harvard School of Public Health student. More than 4,400 girls age 12-18 were asked what the perceived to be their social status among their peers. Their weight gain was compared two years later:
“Those who perceived themselves as unpopular were 69 percent more likely to gain two points on the body mass index scale in the two years that followed the questionnaire.”
“This study tells us that low self-esteem, in the form of low-perceived social status, precedes weight gain.”
Source: HomeVideos.com
Read the full article here.
I can see how this might be true because if you have high self confidence then you are more apt to be involved in school with activities such as sports, school politics, clubs, etc. This makes you a more active human being in general allowing you to maintain a healthy weight. You may also just be more aware of your weight and maintaining your looks when you are always on display in front of others as a school leader or captain of your team. So, I feel that kind of attitude typically stays with you in later years.
I put a picture of Molly Ringwald (the prom queen) & Ally Sheedy (the basket case AKA the unpopular girl) from The Breakfast Club because this article reminds me of the movie. If you haven’t seen it:
1) Have you been living under a rock all these years?
2) Watch it already!
