The focus on teenage weight issues tends to center around girls, but boys are not immune to body image pressures. In two new studies, researchers found that teen boys of a healthy weight who think they are too skinny have a higher risk of being depressed, compared with other boys - even those who think they are overweight.
The findings, which were published in the American Psychological Association's journal Psychology of Men & Masculinity, also suggest this fear of being underweight prompts many young boys to turn to steroids.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that an estimated 3.5% of children and adolescents between the ages of 2 and 19 are underweight, which, in many cases, can be due to underlying health conditions.
While childhood obesity is a health problem, leading to heart disease, diabetes, asthma and sleep apnea - among other conditions - it can also cause psychological stress that stems from social stigmatization, the CDC adds.
In the latest set of studies - led by Aaron Blashill, staff psychologist at Massachusetts General Hospital and faculty member at Harvard Medical School - the researchers found that teenage boys who think they are underweight and who are victims of bullying are more likely to use steroids and feel depressed, compared with other boys their age.
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