Relations of self-concept to obesity of children and adolescents with regard to different living areas

This article considers the relation between overweight and the self-concept of children and adolescents in different living areas. The visibility and perceived controllability of obesity is considered. Results of previous studies about this topic are inconsistent. Self-esteem as one aspect of the self-concept is measured by the "list of statements for children and adolescents': Comparing a group of obese (N=56) with a group of children and adolescents who suffered From other chronic illnesses (N=22), the obese had a lower self-esteem for the public living areas "school" and "leisure time", but not for the private area "family': A further result shows that the visibility of the illness is significantly related to self-esteem; again this relation is only revealed for the public living areas "school" and "leisure time'.