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Journal of Pediatric Psychology Advance Access published online on December 21, 2005
Journal of Pediatric Psychology, doi:10.1093/jpepsy/jsj091
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© The Author 2005. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Pediatric Psychology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org
Received March 16, 2005
Accepted November 12, 2005

Article

Weight Preoccupation as a Function of Observed Physical Attractiveness: Ethnic Differences Among Normal-Weight Adolescent Females

Natalie Colabianchi PhD 1, Carolyn E. Ievers-Landis PhD 2 *, and Elaine A. Borawski PhD 1

1 Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
2 Division of Behavioral Pediatrics and Psychology, Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Carolyn E. Ievers-Landis, E-mail: carolyn.landis{at}uhhs.com


  Abstract

Objective To examine the association between observer ratings of physical attractiveness and weight preoccupation for female adolescents, and to explore any ethnic differences between Caucasian, African-American, and Hispanic females. Methods Normal-weight female adolescents who had participated in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health in-home Wave II survey were included (n = 4,324). Physical attractiveness ratings were made in vivo by interviewers. Using logistic regression models stratified by ethnicity, the associations between observer-rated attractiveness and weight preoccupation were examined after controlling for demographics, measured body mass index (BMI) and psychosocial factors. Results Caucasian female adolescents perceived as being more attractive reported significantly greater weight preoccupation compared with those rated as being less attractive. Observed attractiveness did not relate to weight preoccupation among African-American or Hispanic youth when controlling for other factors. Conclusions For Caucasian female adolescents, being perceived by others as more attractive may be a risk factor for disordered eating.

Keywords: attractiveness; dieting; disordered eating; racial differences; weight preoccupation.
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