Young people who believe they are fat ‘at increased risk of obesity in later life’

THINKING that you’re fat could be a self-fulfilling prophecy, a study has said.

New research has shown that young people who believe they are fat, even if they are not, are more likely to become obese as adults.

Researchers from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology followed over 1,000 teenagers for a decade and found that over three-quarters of those who originally thought they were fat became overweight as adults.

At the start of the study all teens were of a normal weight. Girls were more likely than boys to rate themselves as overweight.

The researchers thought girls experienced greater psychological stress to achieve the ideal body, and that this stress could cause weight gain.

Researcher Koenraad Cuypers, said: “Another explanation may be that young people who see themselves as fat often change their eating habits by skipping meals, for example, research has shown dropping breakfast can lead to obesity.

“Society needs to move away from a focus on weight, and instead needs to emphasize healthy eating habits, such as eating regular and varied meals and eating breakfast.”

In Scotland, 348,000 people have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of over 35, making them obese.