Risk-taking behaviors and overweight in adolescence. A review of the literature

A adolescência é uma fase de maior vulnerabilidade para o envolvimento em comportamentos de risco. Paralelamente, o excesso de peso pode apresentar implicações pessoais e interpessoais que podem pôr em causa o bem-estar psicológico dos adolescentes e potenciar o envolvimento em comportamentos de risco. Objectivo: Analisar estudos sobre comportamentos de risco (ferimentos auto-infligidos e consumo de substâncias) num contexto de obesidade ou sobrepeso na adolescência, observando o papel que certas variáveis psicossociais podem ter na sua moderação. Métodos: Pesquisa de livros e em bases de dados de artigos científicos sobre o tema. Resultados: Os resultados das investigações que procuram associações entre o excesso de peso na adolescência e o envolvimento em ferimentos auto-infligidos e/ou consumo de substâncias são pouco consistentes. Alguns estudos mostram que os adolescentes obesos apresentam mais comportamentos de risco, ao passo que outros mostram que o excesso de peso e a obesidade nos jovens parecem estar associados a uma frequência menor ou similar destes comportamentos, comparativamente com os seus pares de peso saudável. Existem evidências de que a regulação emocional, a participação em actividades sociais e o suporte social proporcionado pelos pares e família, podem moderar esses comportamentos de risco, nos adolescentes com excesso de peso. Conclusão: O excesso de peso não é necessariamente um factor de risco para os adolescentes apresentarem mais ferimentos auto-infligidos ou padrões de consumo de álcool e tabaco mais problemáticos, podendo existir, no entanto, factores psicossociais que tornam os adolescentes com excesso de peso mais vulneráveis a este tipo de comportamentos. Adolescence is a period of increased vulnerability to involvement in risky behaviors. In addition, being overweight can present personal and interpersonal implications that may undermine the psychological well-being of adolescents and increase engagement in such risky behaviors. Objective: To analyze the studies on risk behaviors (selfharm and drug use) in the context of obesity or overweight in adolescence, emphasizing the role that certain psychosocial variables can have in moderating such behaviors. Methods: research in books and data bases of scientific articles about this thematic. Results: The results of investigations seeking associations between overweight in adolescence and engaging in self-injury and / or substance use are inconsistent. Some studies show that obese adolescents have more risk behaviors, while others show that overweight and obesity in young people seem to be associated with a lower frequency of these or similar behaviors compared with their healthy weight peers. There is evidence that emotional regulation, participation in social activities and social support provided by peers and family, can moderate these risk behaviors in adolescents with excess weight. Conclusion: Recent results suggest that overweight is not necessarily a risk factor to teenagers showing more self-injuries or problematic patterns of alcohol or tobacco consumption. However there may exist psychosocial factors that make teens with overweight more vulnerable to those behaviors.Adolescence is a period of increased vulnerability to involvement in risky behaviors. In addition, being overweight can present personal and interpersonal implications that may undermine the psychological well-being of adolescents and increase engagement in such risky behaviors. Objective: To analyze the studies on risk behaviors (selfharm and drug use) in the context of obesity or overweight in adolescence, emphasizing the role that certain psychosocial variables can have in moderating such behaviors. Methods: research in books and data bases of scientific articles about this thematic. Results: The results of investigations seeking associations between overweight in adolescence and engaging in self-injury and / or substance use are inconsistent. Some studies show that obese adolescents have more risk behaviors, while others show that overweight and obesity in young people seem to be associated with a lower frequency of these or similar behaviors compared with their healthy weight peers. There is evidence that emotional regulation, participation in social activities and social support provided by peers and family, can moderate these risk behaviors in adolescents with excess weight. Conclusion: Recent results suggest that overweight is not necessarily a risk factor to teenagers showing more self-injuries or problematic patterns of alcohol or tobacco consumption. However there may exist psychosocial factors that make teens with overweight more vulnerable to those behaviors