Body dissatisfaction and weight bias from childhood to adolescence: Impact on dietary behaviours and eating disorder risk: A scoping review
Author Identifier (ORCID)
Abstract
Objectives and study: Background: Pre‐schoolers and young children exhibit body size stigmatization that can persist into adolescence. However, evidence examining the roles of body dissatisfaction (BD) and weight bias (WB) in perpetuating future eating disorder (ED) risk remains limited. EDs are serious psychiatric disorders associated with significant medical and psychological complications, including emotional dysregulation, anxiety, depression, self‐harm, and suicidality. Objective: To synthesize the evidence on BD and WB from childhood through adolescence and their impact on dietary intake (DI) and the perpetuation of ED risk behaviours. Design: Scoping review.
Methods: A scoping review was conducted using Scopus, CINAHL Plus, MEDLINE, APA PsycInfo, and additional sources. Primary research articles examining the impact of body dissatisfaction and weight bias from childhood to adolescence on the development of future Eating Disorder risk were included. Methodological quality of included studies was assessed, and data were extracted and synthesized thematically.
Results: Twenty‐four studies met the inclusion criteria. Five overarching themes were identified: unhealthy weight control practices; weight‐based stigma and victimization; body dissatisfaction and self‐esteem; parent, family, and peer influences; and gender. Across studies, 56 different tools and questionnaires were used to assess ED‐related outcomes, demonstrating sub- stantial variability in measurement approaches.
Conclusions: This review identifies critical gaps in the evidence base, particularly in early childhood (0–5 years), a develop- mental period in which preventive interventions may be most effective. The marked heterogeneity in tools used to assess ED risk across childhood and adolescence limits comparability and weakens translation into paediatric practice. Greater investment in early‐life research, alongside the development of standardised, developmentally appropriate measures, is essential to inform timely, family‐centred prevention strategies that can reduce both weight‐based stigma and future ED risk.
Keywords
poster, body dissatisfaction, nutrition, malnutrition
Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Date of Publication
6-24-2026
Publication Title
58th Annual Meeting of the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN 2026)
Publisher
Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc
School
School of Medical and Health Sciences
RAS ID
99693
Copyright
free_to_read
Recommended Citation
Dicarlo, J., Iorozzo, J., Smith, H., Gall, Z., Gall, A., & Kunaratnam, K. (2026). Body dissatisfaction and weight bias from childhood to adolescence: Impact on dietary behaviours and eating disorder risk: A scoping review. 58th Annual Meeting of the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN), Lille, France. https://doi.org/10.1002/jpr3.70194