Bullying is an issue that affects almost 30 percent of teens in the United States. A recent nationwide survey showed that bully affects nearly one of every three U.S. children in both middle and high school. Even elementary school students report being bullied by their peers. According to a study published in the Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, nearly 90% of children surveyed in an Arizona school reported being bullied and 59% said they had bullied other students.

Bullying is more frequent with boys than with girls. Teen boys are the most likely group to both bully others and to be the victim of bullies. Boys are more likely to be physically bullied (slapped, pushed, or hit) while girls are more likely to be the subject of rumors, teasing, or sexual comments. Girls tend to bully other girls with indirect forms of aggression such as gossip, insults, or exclusion while boys tend to bully other boys with more physical forms of aggression.

Overweight and obese school aged children are more likely to be the victims of bullying behaviors than their normal weight peers. As weight increases so do the odds of being the victim of aggression in school. According to researchers, overweight and obese teens were more likely to be both victimized by bullies and also to bully other students when compared to normal weight classmates.

Bullying Can Have Severe Effects on an Overweight Student

The effects of being victimized by bullying behavior can hinder a student's short and long term social and psychological development. For overweight and obese youth who are already struggling to fit in, the effects can be profound. Bullying results in feelings of anxiety, fear, and depression. Bullying can affect school performance and can hinder concentration and focus. Prolonged bullying can result in lower levels of self esteem and a poor self concept which can last well into adulthood.

Students who bully others are likely to suffer negative long term consequences as well. Bullying behavior can be a warning sign for serious psychological problems that can worsen as the child approaches adulthood. Students who bully others are many times more likely to be convicted of a crime in adulthood, and are more likely to engage in other delinquent behavior such as theft or drug use.

The Effect of Bullying on Weight Gain and Eating Disorders

Researchers have found significant associations between a student's Body Mass Index (BMI) and negative peer victimization. In one study published in Pediatrics, relational factors such as withdrawing friendship or spreading rumors were positively correlated with a student's BMI. This type of bullying can be particularly harmful to a student's social development.

As students are pushed out of their peer group as a result of bullying behavior, they often withdraw into a cycle of social isolation and inactivity. Isolation and inactivity can lead to depression and weight gain. Sometimes students find comfort in food or escape in online games or activities, further perpetuating the cycle of withdraw, isolation and weight gain.

Improving Self Esteem and Confidence

Once a student is obese and rejected from their peers it is very difficult to reintegrate back into the group. Studies have shown that children are prejudiced against overweight and obese kids. Research has demonstrated that most children would prefer to be friends with a child who is physically handicap than with an overweight or obese peer.

Treatment options for overweight and obese children can range from education on nutrition and group support to residential treatment. The best option for children that have failed in previous attempts to lose weight is residential treatment. Wellspring, the leading provider of effective, scientifically based treatment for obese and overweight adolescents and young adults provides this level of treatment with the best documented outcomes of any non-surgical weight loss intervention for any age group.

Treatment is offered in a supportive setting under the supervision of personal trainers, culinary instructors, psychologists, and therapists called "behavioral coaches." Students get the experience of losing weight and gain the knowledge that they are in control of their biology. This can be an extremely empowering experience which can drastically change the self esteem and confidence of a child.

Removing the child from the current environment and showing them some success is key for breaking the pattern of inactivity, depression and weight gain. Many overweight and obese kids have the belief that they can't change and that diets don't work for them. Residential programs like Wellspring give participants the experience of successful weight loss, and they leave knowing exactly what to do and how to do it. For most students it's a life changing experience.

Overweight children are more likely to be overweight or obese adults and more likely to suffer early heart disease and death. According to a recent study, 80% of obese teens will become overweight adults. Without physically removing the child from their present environment and showing them some success, it is unlikely that they will change on their own.