Overweight teens more likely to be rejected by thin peers, study says

ASU social scientists David Schaefer and Sandra Simpkins conducted new research that shows that overweight young people are more likely to be rejected as friends by peers who are of normal weight. Consistent evidence was found in their study that that overweight youth choose non-overweight friends more often than they were selected in return.

This is troubling since not having or losing friends is associated with higher depression and lower self-worth for young people, which could exacerbate the health problems associated with being overweight. In addition, the influence of not having friends or being shunned because of extra weight can be especially difficult during formative teen years.