Relationship Between Obesity, Body Image, Self-Esteem and Cyber Victimization

Bullying is described as a pattern of repeated acts of violence committed against victims due to an imbalance of power.With the development of digital communication technologies like the internet and mobile phones, a new form of bullying known as "cyberbullying" has emerged.Cyberbullying is the intentional, recurrent, and harmful behavior of people or groups using communications technologies.Social media users are vulnerable to cyberbullying due to the independence of its users in terms of choosing when and what to post.Self-esteem is a concept related to how a person perceives themselves in terms of appearance, relationships, success in school and business life, and complete competence and worthiness.Low quality of life, being overweight, athletic inadequacy, and social relationship disorders may cause a decrease in self-esteem in children and adolescents.Lack of confidence and various psychological issues are caused by low self-esteem.Obesity is a chronic illness, and the negative perceptions of obese people held by the public harm such individuals' relationships with others and lower their self-esteem.On social media, people who are obese often get mocking comments about their looks.Children who are overweight or obese are more likely to experience verbal, relational, and physical bullying than their normal-weight peers.Due to the stigma and discrimination associated with obesity, as well as the increased visibility of offensive comments or images through social media, weight-based victimization in online environments can have a negative impact on adolescents' psychological and physical health.Teenagers who have experienced cyberbullying are more likely to believe their bodies are "too fat" than those who have not.Cyberbullying is linked to a wide range of physiological and psychological issues.The prevalence of depression, stress, and suicidal thoughts has increased among obese people as a result of cyberbullying.Obese girls are victims of bullying at a significantly higher rate than obese boys.Various options, such as social and professional help and support groups can prevent the damage to self-esteem in the overweight and obese groups.Internet addiction and cyberbullying can be prevented by conscious internet use, informing children and adults, and parents restricting the internet use of their children.This review examines the relationship between cyberbullying and obesity while emphasizing its causes and results.