Body dissatisfaction and weight control behaviors among overweight adolescent girls: mediating role of anxiety and depression

Introduction: The weight-related problems are a major public health problem due to its high prevalence rate and negative health consequences. Objective: The main target of this study was to find out if anxiety and depression play a mediating role between body dissatisfaction and unhealthy weight control behaviors among overweight adolescent girls. Material and methods: Participants in this study were 140 overweight adolescent girls aged 16 to 20. The questionnaires used in the study were the EDI-2 subscale for body dissatisfaction, the GHQ-28 scales for anxiety and depression symptoms and an adaptation of the EAT survey scales to assess the weight control behaviors. Mean differences, correlations and sequential mediation were utilized for data analysis. Results: Overweight adolescent girls with high body dissatisfaction showed more anxiety and depression symptoms, as well as more weight control behaviors. According to the sequential mediation analysis, the influence of body dissatisfaction in the weight control behaviors is partially mediated by psychopathological variables (anxiety and depression). Anxiety symptoms have a direct and indirect influence on the weight control behaviors, but depressive symptoms have only an indirect influence. Conclusions: The results of this study highlight the mediating roles of depressive and, mainly anxiety symptoms in overweight adolescent girls for the development of unhealthy weight control behaviors.