Why does Adolescent Obesity Create Social Anxieties?

Obesity among the youth is now more prevalent than ever. There are approximately 30.4% overweight adolescents and 15.5% obese adolescents in the United States. We are aware of the string of diseases that could develop or worsen as obesity continues on to adulthood. But do we understand the impact obesity creates?  Is an obese adolescent comfortable with himself in a social setting? Does adolescent obesity create social anxieties?

It’s a harsh world we live in. Whether the real world begins a step out the door or the moment slumber leaves escapes you, you view of it would be different from another. In order to live in harmony with, society has created standards in common agreement with the general population. This created the public view of obesity and the regard for it is hardly appreciative. Adolescent obesity automatically receives a negative reaction from society because of the preference for the slim and lean. Many are still subject to verbal abuse. Adolescent females, for instance receive derogatory names and the unending comments about their appearance from peers, family and strangers. There are also those who are subject to bullying or the other way around.  Because of the social response for obesity, obese teenagers have the tendency to withdraw. Does adolescent obesity create social anxieties?

Adolescent obesity then creates social anxieties. It’s an age-old issue of acceptance and belonging. Social anxieties for an adolescent are brought upon by the conditions of an adolescent’s environment the development of social anxieties may not originate from home. Some develop the fear from traumatic interactions with non-obese adolescents. The degree of trauma varies but the fear develops nonetheless. Here is where adolescent obesity create social anxieties. The world is different to people. A slim and healthy teen may have his/her peers’ admiration. He/she is able to do more such as sports granted by the blessing of a fit body. The confidence builds as skills and a healthy mentality develops. The case is different for an obese teen. The less they participate due to their weight, the less they feel about themselves. Some are afraid and limit themselves to a certain comfortable peer group whom have already accepted their condition and are not bothered by it. They create boundaries in order to protect themselves from whatever danger a social interaction can bring to an obese adolescent.

Taking a look at adolescent obesity creating social anxieties, we can conclude that social anxieties are formed as a defense mechanism. Then why does adolescent obesity create social anxieties? The answer, self-preservation. The world is still about survival of the fittest. An obese adolescent may find himself/herself at odds with world allowing social anxieties to creep in and take over. This explains why does adolescent obesity create social anxieties.