A myriad of health consequences are associated with abnormal weight. Weight, however, is not only important for physical health, but can also have psychological consequences with implications for mental health as well. For example, an individual’s weight, either actual or perceived, has an effect on well-being and other personality processes, such as self-esteem, with increasing weight associated with lower self-esteem (Miller & Downey, 1999). Further, obesity is associated with subsequent depression (Luppino et al., 2010), whereas weight loss is associated with improved mood and quality of life (Wadden, Womble, Stunkard, & Anderson, 2002). As such, individual differences in weight are one characteristic of the person that has implications not just for physical health outcomes, but for how individuals understand and feel about themselves.
