Labeling Obesity in YouthWeight and appearance are the cornerstone of affecting or affecting a person's self-esteem. Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight. A BMI chart uses the numbers obtained from your index to calculate body mass and classify your figure based on your position on the chart. Terms like overweight and obesity are used to describe the upper extremes. These terms present multiple forms of social bias and therefore should not be used to label those who are overweight. Labels like “obesity” have negative connotations and, when applied to a person, can have devastating psychological effects. Mild depressive disorders, body dissatisfaction, and psychological maladjustment are common disorders among people who struggle with obesity. Children with these labels are at higher risk of experiencing social abuse over time. Society should eliminate weight classifications and labels to prevent young people from being exposed to social degradation at a young age. The negative implications associated with labels harm children dealing with weight in several ways. Overweight/obese youth are more likely to experience impaired peer relationships, weight-related stigma and bias than their normal-weight peers, according to a study from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. . (Farhat, Ianotti, & Simons-Morton, 2010) Interaction with other children is a crucial aspect of social development. Through relationships with their peers, young people develop the skills necessary to function successfully in society as adults. Stigma can lead the child to be ashamed of their appearance, which can be detrimental to their healthy self-esteem and potentially...... middle of paper ......eaten than obese children and adolescents are subject to social pressures such as rejection, discrimination and negative stereotyping, and such experiences could have negative consequences in terms of self-image, self-esteem and mood. More people would benefit from dropping the obesity classification. These labels are much less likely to provide positive motivation for a healthier lifestyle. If we stopped labeling children as overweight or obese while still providing positive reinforcement for physical well-being, we would get more young people willing to develop healthy habits. With a weakened level of self-esteem, this will and motivation will no longer exist. The negative connotations associated with obesity labeling are harmful to young people and will make it difficult for them to develop effectively into adulthood..