Global self-esteem and degree of overweight/obesity: are they linked in the adult population? A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE: Self-esteem may be adversely affected in adults with overweight or obesity, particularly women and those showing higher BMIs, although there is no consensus in the literature. The objective of the current study, based on reported cross-sectional associations, was to clarify the relationship between global self-esteem and overweight/obesity in adults. METHODS: = 2,972) was conducted for quantitative synthesis. Potential moderators, such as gender, age, BMI, type of assessment, and treatment-seeking status, were tested. RESULTS: < .001. None of the tested moderators affected this association, although the meta-analysis of the individual participant data provided by the authors revealed a small effect of gender and a non-linear evolution of self-esteem linked to BMI. CONCLUSION: The present study found a negative relationship between global self-esteem and overweight/obesity in adults, which suggests a negative, although weak, effect of excess weight on self-perception.