Do overweight students experience more physical aggression?

Findings demonstrated that overweight adolescents are more likely to be both victims and perpetrators of violent acts (Janssen, et al., 2004). This study tested this weight-based victimization/perpetrator hypothesis. The study sample comprised N = 649 middle school students, which were regrouped in three weight categories (i.e. underweight, normal weight, overweight) according to the cut-offs proposed by the International Obesity Taskforce. In order to analyze group differences between the weight categories, three same sized groups (N = 75) were randomly created from the whole data set. Results confirmed that overweight students are more likely to be victimized but not to become perpetrators themselves compared to their peers. Logistic regressions showed that risk factor of being physically aggressed were being anxious (OR = 2.34), having low self-esteem (OR = 0.58), having a higher BMI (OR = 1.11) and being male (OR = 0.26). Results will be discussed with respect to psychosocial interventions.