Obese Adolescent Girls

Abstract

Obese adolescent girls show personality characteristics strikingly similar to the traits of ethnic and racial minorities recognized by Allport and others to be due to their status as victims of prejudice. Such traits are obsessive concern with one's status, acceptance of dominant values, passivity, withdrawal and perhaps strengthening of "in-group" ties. The effects of social and cultural factors on the personalities of obese adolescent girls have not been hitherto described. Some of these resultant traits, although identified, have been assumed to be causes rather than effects of obesity. The pressures to which the obese adolescent girl is subjected and their effect on her personality should be taken into consideration when studying and dealing with obese subjects.