Body Image Issues In Adolescence Linked To Depression In adulthood

Parents must take note — there is now stronger scientific evidence explaining why they should avoid shaming their teenage children over body shape, weight or appearance. A major new study has found that dissatisfaction with one’s body during adolescence can trigger mental-health problems that continue well into adulthood.

What many families dismiss as “typical teenage insecurity” may, in fact, be an early warning sign of more serious trouble ahead. According to researchers, negative body image at age 16 is a strong predictor of eating disorders by the early twenties and depressive symptoms that can persist into the mid-twenties.

Importantly, these associations hold true even after accounting for genetics and family background, suggesting body dissatisfaction is not simply a reflection of existing mental-health problems but a driver of them.

The study, published in The Lancet Psychiatry and funded by Wellcome, is one of the largest and most detailed investigations on the subject. More than 2,000 twins born in England and Wales were tracked from adolescence into their twenties as part of the long-running Twins Early Development Study (TEDS). By comparing identical and non-identical twins, the researchers were able to separate genetic influences from environmental and social factors, making the findings particularly robust.

Lead author Dr. Ilaria Costantini from UCL’s Division of Psychiatry said the results are especially worrying at a time when depression and eating disorders among young people have risen sharply. “In Western societies we typically presume that young women are under greater pressure to look a certain way, especially in relation to thinness,” she said. “Our findings suggest these pressures may translate into stronger long-term mental-health effects for girls.”

She added, however, that the study’s measure of body dissatisfaction focused mainly on weight and shape — concerns often associated with girls.

One notable finding was that the link between teenage body dissatisfaction and later BMI was weaker in identical twins compared with non-identical twins. This suggests that shared genetics influence whether body unhappiness leads to later weight changes — another reminder of the complex interplay between biology and environment.

Senior author Professor Francesca Solmi, also from UCL, emphasised the public-health implications. She said tackling body dissatisfaction must become a central pillar of mental-health prevention. “We need coordinated action across schools, public-health systems, families and media platforms,” she said. “Regulating harmful social-media content and promoting realistic, diverse body representation are essential steps.”

Eating-disorder advocates agree that prevention efforts must avoid reinforcing weight stigma. Umairah Malik, Clinical Manager at Beat, noted that harmful societal messages about appearance fuel distress among young people. She pointed out that both genes and environment shape body image, meaning interventions must address bullying, social comparison, and exposure to unattainable beauty standards.

The researchers also found that unique life experiences — even among twins raised in the same household — can significantly shape body satisfaction. Peer pressure, weight-related teasing, and the pervasive influence of social media were all highlighted as powerful contributors to body dissatisfaction.

These findings confirm trends observed even earlier in childhood. A previous study led by Professor Solmi had shown that children who experienced body dissatisfaction at age 11 were more likely to show signs of depression by age 14. Together, the evidence paints a clear picture: early intervention is essential.

Education experts say much of this intervention must begin at home and schools. Sushil Bansal, member of the management committee of Navjeewan Adarsh Public Schools and a Political Science lecturer in a Delhi Government school, said adults often underestimate the impact of casual remarks. “It is essential to appreciate a child’s strengths and possibilities rather than body-shame or criticise them,” he said. “Positive reinforcement builds confidence, resilience and a healthy sense of self-worth — qualities that enable children to learn, take risks and grow into compassionate, capable adults.”

Psychiatrists too feel the problem is more common than families realise. Dr. Minakshi Manchanda, Associate Director – Psychiatry at Asian Hospital, Delhi noted that children frequently hear comments about weight, height, skin tone or body shape from relatives, classmates and neighbours. “These remarks may appear harmless or even ‘encouraging’ to adults, but they create deep emotional wounds in children,” she said. “Over time, they begin to believe something is wrong with their body, and that belief shapes their entire self-perception.”

According to her, the effects become more visible during the teenage years. Many adolescents become hesitant to participate in sports, social gatherings or even routine classroom discussions because they fear being judged. “Some cope by extreme dieting or over-exercising, while others withdraw completely from social activities. Many develop anxiety, depression or eating disorders,” she warned.