Weight-related blame and shame were linked with children's psychological functioning
In children and adolescents with overweight or obesity, a review found associations between weight-related blame, guilt, shame, and psychological functioning. It does not establish that these emotions improve treatment motivation.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
The review connected body- or weight-related blame, guilt, and shame with social experiences, eating behavior, self-perception, emotional functioning, and willingness to seek help among young people with overweight or obesity. It reports associations across these areas rather than a tested motivational strategy. The abstract does not establish causal direction or quantify the relationships.
The abstract lists areas of association without effect sizes, study-specific comparisons, or consistent directions of change. It also identifies long-term consequences and interactions among children, parents, and healthcare providers as topics requiring further research.
More than body image
The reported associations extended beyond self-perception to bullying, social connectedness, eating patterns, anxiety, depression, and help-seeking. Listing these areas shows the breadth of the review, but does not establish that every association had the same direction.
Motivation remains a separate question
The authors examined a belief that negative weight-related emotions can motivate treatment participation. Their summarized results describe relationships with psychological functioning, without reporting a trial demonstrating that inducing blame, guilt, or shame improves treatment engagement.
The original publication
Analysis of Blame, Guilt, and Shame Related to Body and Body Weight and Their Relationship with the Context of Psychological Functioning Among the Pediatric Population with Overweight and Obesity: A Systematic Review.
Czepczor-Bernat K, Mikulska M, Matusik P
Nutrients · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 40507032
- Record checked
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