Mediating roles of bullying and depression in the link between body weight and suicidality in adolescents

Background: The role of body weight-related factors in suicidality in adolescents remains debatable. This study aimed to examine whether (1) overweight/obesity and weight perception are associated with suicidality and self-harm, and (2) whether depression and peer victimization mediate these associations. Methods: Using data from a nationally representative Australian adolescent cohort (N = 2858), we employed logistic regression analyses to explore associations between body weight at the age of 16–17, weight perception at the age of 16–17, and suicidal or self-harm thoughts or behaviors at the age of 18–19. Mediation analysis was used to evaluate the mediating role of depression and being bullied in the relationship between body weight-related factors and suicidal and self-harm thoughts or behaviors. Results: The results suggest that overweight and obesity were not significantly associated with suicidal and self-harm thoughts or behaviors after adjusting for other covariates. However, body weight-based discrimination and negative weight perceptions were associated with suicidal or self-harm outcomes. Further, bullying and depression were found to jointly account for approximately 28–46 % of the total effect on suicidal or self-harm thoughts/behaviors. Limitations: The reliance on self-reported data, particularly for sensitive topics such as self-harm and suicidal thoughts and behaviors, may introduce reporting bias, as individuals may underreport these behaviors due to discomfort surrounding privacy or judgement. Conclusions: Stress due to weight perception may exert a larger impact than body weight on adolescent suicide or self-harm risk. Mitigating the impact of depression and bullying should be prioritized for suicide preventions for youths with weight issues.