Mirror of the Mind: The Impact of Obesity on Adolescent’s Self-Esteem

As childhood and adolescent obesity continues to rise, the psychological consequences remain somewhat unclear. While past reviews suggest a mild connection between obesity and overall self-esteem, few have delved into how obesity impacts the different aspects of self-worth and overall life satisfaction in young people. A comprehensive literature review covering studies from 1999 onward- including different aspects of the relationship between self-esteem and obesity of adolescents such as self-esteem in adolescents, body weight and self-perception, link between obesity and low self-esteem, gender differences, social and environmental influences, cultural and societal influences, psychological comorbidities, family dynamics and parental influence, role of social media and digital influences etc. Areas most affected include physical ability, body image, and social interactions. These effects appeared consistent across age groups, though research on differences by gender and ethnicity remains scarce. Interestingly, improvements in self-perceived abilities were noted regardless of whether weight loss occurred, emphasizing the potential of psychological and functional outcomes as meaningful targets for future interventions.